Cospito 'suffered transient cardiac arrest' says lawyer

(ANSA) - ROME, MAR 22 - Jailed anarchist leader Alfredo Cospito suffered a transient cardiac arrest and his condition is worsening as he nears five months into his hungers trike against the tough 41 bis prison regime he is being held under, his lawyer said Tuesday evening.
    Cospito, 55, serving 30 years for bomb attacks on Carabinieri barracks and the shooting of a nuclear company director, has appealed to be let out to house arrest after Italy's supreme Court of Cassation turned down his plea to be released from the 41 bis regime, normally reserved for mafia bosses.
    A court is set to judge on that house-arrest request on Friday.
    Defence attorney Flavio Rossi Albertini said Tuesday night: "Shortly before my arrival Alfredo suffered chest pain and trembling in a hand. He alerted the guards and after 10 minutes the doctor came shouting that he was dying. There saw there was a problem on the heart monitor. They immediately injected potassium into a vein. He had a cardiac crisis. He saw his heart make a big leap on the trace, and then the situation stabilized." Rossi Albertini added that Cpsito had medical tests on Monday and "the doctors say he risks paralysis for his whole life.
    There may already have been irreversible damage".
    Anarachists have been staging violent protests and arson attacks inside and outside Italy supporting Cospito's battle to have the 41 bis abolished for all inmates, including mafiosi. (ANSA).