Berlusconi-run press links attack to “general climate of hatred”

Il Giornale, a right-leaning Italian daily run by Berlusconi’s brother, is clearly doing everything it can to link Sunday’s souvenir-attack on the Prime Minister to a broader ‘conspiracy’ against him. A front page cartoon features a judge from the Constitutional Court throwing the same church souvenir from Sunday’s incident in the direction of Berlusconi. The implication is that the injuries suffered by the Prime Minister are part of a broader campaign against him that includes the Constitutional Court’s recent decision to abolish Berlusconi’s immunity from prosecution.

The Guardian quotes Berlusconi’s doctor who claims the Italian PM had said he was expecting such an attack given the “climate of hatred”.

Other stories in today’s international papers:

The New York Times
China and U.S. Hit Strident Impasse at Climate Talks

La Voix du Nord
Editorial on Copenhagen

The Guardian
Cameron’s lead cut to single digits for the first time in a year