Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi moved yesterday to protect one of his family's TV stations after Italy's president rejected a bill that critics say would benefit the tycoon-turned-politician's media empire.

Late on Monday President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi refused to sign the bill, which relaxes limits on media ownership, and sent it back to parliament in a twin setback for Berlusconi's political and media interests.

The prime minister said yesterday his cabinet would adopt an emergency decree shielding Mediaset, the country's biggest private broadcaster which is controlled by the Berlusconi family, from the fallout.

"As predicted, the decree will be done," he told reporters in Strasbourg.

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