Ex-Italy Prime Minister Berlusconi Diagnosed With Chronic Leukemia

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has been diagnosed with leukemia and was being treated for a lung infection, his doctors said on Thursday.

Berlusconi's personal physician, Alberto Zangrillo said Berlusconi has had leukemia "for some time" but that the cancer of the blood cells was in a "persistent chronic phase."

He added; "The current treatment strategy envisions treatment of the pulmonary infection as well as a specialized treatment aimed at limiting the negative effects of a preexisting condition, chronic leukemia."

Berlusconi served three terms as Italy's premier and now serves in the Senate.

He was admitted to an intensive care unit at Milan's San Raffaele Hospital on Wednesday for treatment of what aides indicated was a respiratory problem.

Zangrillo, Berlusconi's longtime physician, is a chief anesthesiologist at San Raffaele Hospital, where his patient is being treated.

The former three-time premier and now senator had left the same hospital a week ago after several days of tests.

Without citing any sources, the Italian news agency ANSA reported that Berlusconi had received chemotherapy.