Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of Italy is recovering in hospital after an assault left his face covered in blood following a rally in Milan.

意大利总理西尔维奥·贝卢斯科尼在米兰的一场集会上遭遇到袭击，血流满面，目前正在医院接受治疗。

Alleged¹ attacker Massimo Tartaglia was detained at the scene" width="226" height="170" src="/upimg/091214/4_004707_1.jpg" />
Alleged attacker Massimo Tartaglia was detained at the scene

He suffered two broken teeth, a minor² nose fracture破裂，骨折 and cuts to his lip after being struck by a man wielding³挥舞，使用 a souvenir model of the city's cathedral大教堂.

Mr Berlusconi, 73, tried to assure supporters afterwards he was OK.

The alleged attacker, who has a history of mental illness, has been charged with throwing the souvenir纪念品，礼物.

Massimo Tartaglia, 42, had no previous criminal record, police were quoted as saying.

After the attack on Sunday evening the prime minister, looking dazed, was helped to his feet by aides and put in a car. He got out and tried to climb on the car to show he was all right, before being driven away.

It was a typical show of defiance蔑视，挑战 by a political fighter, says the BBC's Duncan Kennedy in Rome.

Mr Berlusconi insisted he was well at the hospital.

'Metal or plaster'

Mr Berlusconi had been greeting supporters in a square in Milan when the assault took place.

There are said to have been scuffles混战，扭打 between hecklers and security staff during the rally.

At one point in his speech, Mr Berlusconi responded to his critics in Italy by declaring himself to be "good-looking" and "a decent chap小伙子，家伙".

The Italian leader was apparently⁵ signing autographs when he was struck with the souvenir.

Video of the assault shows Mr Berlusconi suddenly grimacing⁶扮鬼脸 in pain.

It is not clear from the footage what happened but the object appears to have been thrown at his face.

Police charged Mr Tartaglia with aggravated⁷ assault伤害罪 for hurling⁸ the miniature replica⁹复制品 at Mr Berlusconi.

The replica of the cathedral, famous for its gothic spires¹⁰尖塔，尖顶, was initially¹¹ said to be made of metal but later reports suggested it was plaster.

Under pressure

The Italian prime minister was previously¹² assaulted in the street on New Year's Eve 2004, when a tourist visiting Rome struck him with a camera at a rally in the capital's Piazza¹³ Navona.

His attacker, a bricklayer砖匠 from northern Italy, reportedly told police he had attacked Mr Berlusconi because he hated him. The politician suffered a bruise擦伤，青肿.

Mr Berlusconi has been under pressure in recent months.

His private life has been in the spotlight¹⁴处于公众注意中心, amid allegations that he slept with prostitutes, and after his wife filed for divorce.

He has dismissed accusations¹⁵ of ties to the Mafia, and criminal cases against him have resumed after a law giving him immunity¹⁶豁免权 was overturned.

A week ago tens of thousands of people attended an anti-Berlusconi rally in Rome.