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"The Satanic Verses" author Salman Rushdie is no longer on life support and is able to speak a day after he was stabbed in New York state, the Associated Press reported.

Rushdie remains in hospital with serious injuries, but writer Aatish Taseer tweeted last night that "the machine is off and he's talking (and joking)".

Rushdie's literary agent, Andrew Wylie, confirmed this information without giving further details.

Details of Salman Rushdie's attacker revealed

Earlier yesterday, the man accused of Friday's attack at the Shattoqua Institute, an education and recreation center, pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder and assault, which prosecutors called a "planned" crime.

The accused, Hadi Matar, 24, was held without bail.

Rushdie, 75, suffered injuries to his eye, arm and liver.

He could lose vision in the injured eye, his agent said.

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Salman Rushdie