Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Tuesday telephoned longtime ally Silvio Berlusconi to offer support after the Italian prime minister suffered a broken nose and two broken teeth in an attack, the government’s web site said.
Berlusconi, 73, was attacked late Sunday in Milan by a man who threw a model of a cathedral at him after a rally.
Putin praised Berlusconi for his courage and said his strong character would allow him to return to work quickly.
Doctors said Berlusconi would be released from the hospital with orders to rest Wednesday.
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