Slovakia's PM fights for his life after assassination bid

SLOVAKIA'S populist prime minister, Robert Fico, was shot multiple times and gravely wounded yesterday in an attempted assassination that shocked the small country and reverberated across Europe.

The pro-Russian leader, 59, was reported to be fighting for his life after being hit in the stomach.

At least four shots were fired outside a cultural centre in the town of Handlova, nearly 85 miles north east of the capital, where Mr Fico was meeting with supporters, the government said.

A suspect was in custody, the country's president said in a televised statement. Mr Fico was taken by helicopter to a hospital.