Italy to beef up security after Berlusconi assault

ROME: Italy's government late on Tuesday said it plans to rush out new measures like blacking out hate sites on the Internet to protect politicians after a weekend assault on Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi left him hospitalized.

The 73-year-old billionaire businessman, who is nursing a broken nose, fractured teeth and gashed lips after being hit in the face by a spiked souvenir, was expected to be discharged from the hospital late yesterday with orders to rest for two weeks, his doctor said.

Berlusconi - whose political fortunes look set to gain as a wave of sympathy floods in - put on a brave face in his first public message to Italians since entering hospital.