Italian prime minister in hospital after attack

MILAN: A man with a history of mental health problems attacked Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Sunday, knocking out two of his teeth and forcing him to be rushed to hospital with a blood-splattered face. Television pictures showed the 73-year-old prime minister in the midst of a crowd following a political rally in his native Milan, when suddenly a man lunged and took a swing at Berlusconi’s face. Blood splattered across his face, aides bundled Berlusconi into a car and rushed him from the scene in the northern industrial city.Police later charged a 42-year-old man with aggravated assault for hurling a miniature replica of Milan’s gothic cathedral at Berlusconi, the ANSA news agency said.

The prime minister was examined and treated at the emergency room at the San Raffaele Hospital, where a hospital spokesman said he had two teeth knocked out, a small fracture to his nose, cuts on the inside and outside of his upper lip and bruises to his face.“From a clinical point of view, everything’s fine, but there’s a need for an observation period of one or two days,” said Dr Alberto Zangrillo, head of the emergency room at the San Raffaele Hospital here.Berlusconi would probably not require any operation, he added. “I’m fine, I’m fine,” the billionaire prime minister was quoted as saying by ANSA as he left the emergency room.

The suspected assailant, Massimo Tartaglia, had a 10-year history of mental health problems, ANSA said. His psychotherapist was summoned to the police station where he was being held, the agency added. Television pictures showed the police protecting a dazed-looking Tartaglia from an angry crowd as they took him into custody. He was found in possession of a crucifix and teargas, ANSA reported. Scuffles broke out after about 10 people jeered Berlusconi at the rally of his People of Freedom party, calling him a “clown”.

He shouted back at them “shame on you”, drowning them out with the help of the sound system.

Italian President Giorgio Napolitano said he “strongly condemned” the attack. Berlusconi was the victim of a similar assault several years ago in Rome when a young man hit him with a camera tripod, cutting his head.

The flamboyant prime minister has come under increasing pressure in recent months over his private life and business affairs. On Friday he dismissed accusations of Mafia ties made by a turncoat criminal at an Italian court as “a farce”. Berlusconi, who began his third stint as prime minister in May last year, said he would not bow to pressure to go to the polls early.A series of allegations about his private life this year led his wife Veronica Lario to file for divorce. Lario, 53, is seeking 43 million euros a year.

4 dead in Baghdad blasts

An Iraqi police officer stands next to a damaged police vehicle, south of the capital Baghdad.

BAGHDAD: Three car bombs in quick succession during peak morning rush hour in the centre of Baghdad on Tuesday killed at least four people and injured 14, an Iraqi interior ministry official said. The first car bomb exploded near the Iranian embassy around 7.30 am (0530 GMT), the second minutes later near the foreign ministry and the third soon after near the ministry for emigres and displaced persons. The car bombings were the fourth wave of coordinated attacks in four months to target official buildings in the Iraqi capital despite the security measures in place. On August 19 a double suicide attack against the foreign and finance ministries killed 106 people and injured some 600.

On October 25 it was the turn of the justice ministry and a provincial office, with the blasts killing 153 people and injuring more than 500. And on December 8 five attacks in Baghdad killed 127 and injured 448. Tuesday's blasts, near the highly protected "Green Zone" where the US and British embassies are located as well as the Iraq prime minister's office, come just days after senior officials were grilled by lawmakers over the series of blasts to strike the capital. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki appeared before parliament last week, where he criticised lawmakers for failing to provide enough money for security. Lawmakers instead pointed to a lack of coordination between ministries.

The commander of US forces in Iraq, General Ray Odierno, recently predicted a rise in the number of attacks ahead of legislative elections scheduled for March 7, and said that he could request Washington to slow down the withdrawal of US troops from the country if necessary. US combat troops are due to leave Iraq by August 2010. Some 115,000 US troops are currently serving in Iraq.

PM's jumbo team raises questions

KATHMANDU: PM Madhav Kumar Nepal today left for Copenhagen, Denmark — the venue for the United Nations Climate Change Conference — leading a 43-member jumbo team. Altogether, 80 Nepali delegates are taking part in the global summit since a 40-member team already reached the Danish capital earlier last week. The PM is accompanied by his wife Gayatri, some ministers, lawmakers and three advisors — foreign affairs advisor Rajan Bhattarai, chief political advisor Raghuji Panta and press advisor Bishnu Rijal — a few officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), chief secretary Madhav Prasad Ghimire and security personnel. Interacting with mediapersons at the Tribhuwan International Airport ahead of his departure, the PM said that he would raise the concerns of the impact of climate change on the Himalayas and other parts of the nation. The PM will address the conference on Wednesday. However, he has been allotted only three minutes to highlight his nation’s plight. He will get to interact with Indian PM Dr Man Mohan Singh and other world leaders on the sidelines of the meet. MoFA officials maintained that the jumbo team was a “sheer misuse of tax payers’ money” since the nation has been allocated only six seats at the summit, which is taking place at Bella Convention Centre.

“The strength of the delegation should not have exceeded more than 20,” he said. A PM’s aide, however, claimed that the government would not pick up the tab for all the delegates. “The government will only foot the bills for the PM and his wife. While, DFID, WWF and other international development organisations will bear the other delegates’ expenses,” he explained. Simon Lucas, climate change advisor, DFID-Nepal, said that his organisation had funded the trip for 38 members. “Though we’re yet to calculate the total expenditure, we’re likely to spend $1, 30,000. Besides we paid for so many delegates since we wanted Nepal to make a good impression,” he said. The ministers, lawmakers and government officials are in the eye of the storm for taking part in the meet at international bodies’ expense.

“It’s unethical on their part,” said a MoFA official. “It was unnecessary to include three advisors to the PM, chief secretary, several ministers and lawmakers,” he added. In fact, Nepali delegates outnumber that from neighbouring India and China. While, India has sent 34 delegates, China allowed only 38.

Passenger bus accounts for 13 lives

POKHARA: Thirteen people were killed and 37 others injured when a Pokhara-bound overloaded passenger bus skidded off, and plunged 150 metres below into a gorge in Sarangkot VDC-1 around 10 this morning. The vehicle, which had 52 passengers on board, was coming from Kaskikot. The victims are mostly residents of Kaskikot and Sarangkot VDCs. The injured are undergoing treatment at Manipal Teaching Hospital, Eastern Regional Hospital and Charak Hospital in the Lake City. Some are still unconscious due to concussion. District Police Office, Kaski, said that two patients have been sent to the capital for treatment. The police are suspecting that the accident might have occurred due to brake failure. Locals took part in rescue operations, helping the injured to be ferried to the hospitals.

Victims

• Gopal Giri (58) fromKaskikot VDC-2

• Gopi Sunar (55) from Kaskikot VDC-2

• Kopilmani (55) from Sarangkot VDC-5

• Krishna Bahadur Thapa (49) from Sarangkot VDC-7

• Girimaya Sunar (45) from KaskikotVDC-2

• Setu Tripathi (60) from Kaskikot VDC-6

• Bimala Timilsena (21) fromKaskikot VDC-3

• Mina Karki (35) fromKaskikot VDC-6

• Shiva Giri (24) from Kaskikot VDC-8,

• Sudarshan Shrestha (3) from Kaskikot VDC-8

• Bimala Karki (16) from Kaskikot VDC-6

• Tej Bahadur Karki (45) from Kaskikot VDC-6

• Manoj Nepali (48) from Kaskikot VDC-8

Businessmen shut Kapilvastu bazaar

TAULIHAWA: Business entrepreneurs affiliated to Taulihawa Chamber of Commerce & Industries on Tuesday shut down Kapilvastu district protesting the death of a businessman on Monday evening. A gang of unidentified persons on Monday evening fired a bullet at proprietor of Shristi Money Exchange Ram Niwas Tiwari. The assailants fled from the scene after robbing Rs 5 lakhs from Tiwari who was returning home from his office. The bandh has affected normal life in Kapilvastu district as industries, educational institutions and vehicular movement have been brought to a grinding halt.The irate businessmen have demanded stern action against the culprits and compensation.

Maoists to declare 7th, 8th states

KATHMANDU: Amid the overwhelming criticism, the main opposition party UCPN-Maoist on Tuesday is set to declare two more federal states as per its third phase protest programmes.The two states are Bheri Karnali and Bhote-Lama autonomous states. The declaration of Bheri-Karnali autonomous state would be made by foreign affairs chief of the party Krishna Bahadur Mahara in the headquarters of Jumla district. According to the party Bheri-Karnali federal state comprises Surkhet, Mugu, Kalikot, Jagarkot, Dailekh and Jumla.Meanwhile, Netra Bikram Chand 'Biplav' will be declaring the Bhote-Lama federal state amid a programme in Bhotela.After today’s declaration, the total number of states declared will be eight. They have declared Limbuwan state from Terathum and Kochila state from Jhapa on November 11, Seti-Mahakali state from Doti and Tharuwan autonomous state from Nepalgunj on December 13 and Sherpa autonomous state from Salleri, Solukhumbu and Kirat autonomous state from Khotang on Monday.