UPDATE 4: MP says thieves demanded €10,000

Labour MP Anthony Zammit, who was bound and beaten in his home last night, told police that the people who made their way into his house had demanded €10,000. They then bound his hands and gagged him using his ties and bound his feet using the wire of a lampshade, his friend Philip Schembri recounted.

The police were alerted that something was amiss when the owner of a bar close to Mr Zammit's residence saw the thieves fleeing from the house.

Mr Schembri, who looks after Mr Zammit's house, said he received a call from the police at about 4.30 a.m. asking him to go to Mr Zammit's house as something had happened to the surgeon. He realised that something was wrong as soon as he noticed that the bedroom door was locked, when Mr Zammit usually kept it open.

Mr Schembri said Mr Zammit was locked in his room by his armed aggressors.

Mr Zammit told them how three men had beat him around in the head, demanded €10,000 and tied him up.He gave them what cash he had, as well as his mobile phone, and the thieves ransacked his home. However, it did not seem that they took anything of value.

It is not known how the thieves gained access to the house as there was no sign of a break-in. They are likely to have been there before Mr Zammit arrived, surprising him when he went to bed.

The men tried to get away in a stolen Kia Avella but it would not start so they ran off.

Dr Zammit's injuries are not thought to be serious.

The Medical Association of Malta (MAM) said it was disgusted at the violent assault on Dr Zammit.

"MAM offers its support and solidarity and while wishing Surgeon Anthony Zammit a speedy recovery, it augurs that the Police will apprehend the villains and bring them to justice," the association said.

Various other associations expressed their solidarity with Dr Zammit including the PN, the MLP and Zebbug council.