Italy's leader Silvio Berlusconi leaves hospital in Milan on Thursday. (Giampiero Sposito/Reuters)

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was discharged from a Milan hospital on Thursday, four days after he was attacked by a mentally ill man at a political rally.

The 73-year-old Berlusconi suffered a fractured nose and broken teeth in the attack. Television footage of him leaving San Raffaele Hospital in a limosine showed the conservative leader and media mogul with a white bandage around his nose and face as he waved weakly with one hand.

Berlusconi was struck in the face with a thrown sculpture on Sunday as he signed autographs in Milan.

Police arrested Massimo Tartaglia, 42, in connection with the assault. Officials say Tartaglia has been undergoing psychiatric treatment for several years but has no criminal record.

On Wednesday a Milan judge remanded Tartaglia in prison, denying the request of his lawyers to transfer him to the psychiatric ward of a hospital.

Also on Wednesday police detained another man with a mental illness who tried to visit Berlusconi in the hospital. The 26-year-old man, who police said was a supporter of Berlusconi, managed to get to the floor where the Italian politician was recovering before he was detained.

Berlusconi's spokesman, Paolo Bonaiuti, said on Thursday Berlusconi slept well Wednesday night after several nights of discomfort.

Doctors have ordered him to cancel or reduce public appearances for at least the next two weeks.

With files from The Associated Press