Cospito hearing on house arrest request begins

(ANSA) - ROME, MAR 24 - Surveillance judges in Milan on Friday began examining the request of hunger-striking jailed anarchist leader Alfredo Cospito for his prison sentence to be commuted to house arrest on health grounds.
    The hearing took place in the penitentiary ward of the San Paolo hospital in Milan, where Cospito is receiving medical treatment after suffering transient cardiac arrest on Wednesday.
    The 55-year-old is asking to serve his sentence at his sister's home.
    Cospito has been on hunger strike since last autumn in protest against the tough 41 bis prison regime he is being subjected to, which is normally reserved for mafia bosses.
    He is serving 30 years for bomb attacks on Carabinieri barracks and the shooting of a nuclear company director.
    The judges have five days to reach a decision.
    On Friday Cospito supporters staged a protest outside the Milan courthouse in solidarity with the anarchist leader. (ANSA).