Berlusconi immunity challenged

In a fresh blow for Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, a Milan court yesterday questioned the legality of a new law that protects the premier from prosecution and asked Italy's Supreme Court to investigate.

Mr Berlusconi's lawyers said the request, which came just one day before Italy takes over the rotating presidency of the European Union, represented a political attack on their client.

Mr Berlusconi is standing trial in Milan on charges of bribing judges. With a verdict looming in the case, parliament earlier last month rammed a bill into law that offers legal immunity to Italy's top five officials, including the premier.

In accordance with the new law, a panel of judges hearing the case announced yesterday that they were freezing the three-year-old trial until further notice.

But at the same time, they asked the Supreme Court to review the controversial immunity law, saying concerns that it was unconstitutional were not "totally unfounded".

The Italian prosecutor pursuing the case told the judges last week that "the law clearly and totally violates the principle that everyone is equal in front of the law".

Mr Berlusconi's lawyers said the request reinforced their view that the Milan judiciary was pursuing a political vendetta.

"The law was constitutional. The court's decision is therefore not of a technical nature but a political one," said lawyer Niccolo Ghedini, who is also a member of parliament for Mr Berlusconi's Forza Italia (Go Italy) party.