Berlusconi defiant as pressure grows over scandal

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi yesterday brushed off pressure over allegations female escorts were paid to attend his parties and sought to focus on his government's plans for the next year. Already under fire over his friendship with an 18-year-old that prompted his wife to seek divorce, Mr Berlusconi now faces questions from the influential Catholic establishment and the opposition as details of his private life emerge daily.

The latest uproar came after a 23-year old bridal model told major Italian dailies this weekend she had accompanied a female escort to Mr Berlusconi's private Rome residence for dinner, where the Prime Minister presented her with rings and necklaces designed by him.

The model said she was later paid €1,000 to attend a party at Mr Berlusconi's villa in Sardinia by a local businessman being investigated by magistrates on suspicion of corruption.

She added she recounted the events to investigators as well. Her account appeared to corroborate comments made by the female escort last week.

The entrepreneur has denied paying women to attend parties and apologised for "involuntarily damaging" Mr Berlusconi.

Mr Berlusconi last week called the accusations "false trash" meant to taint his image ahead of the July G8 summit hosted by Italy and said the centre- left opposition could not topple him.

He was equally defiant yesterday as the pressure mounted.

"Why would I not hang in there?" Mr Berlusconi asked after voting in provincial election run-offs when supporters yelled at him to "hang in there".

"We will soon have a meeting with all the ministers in which we will lay down the government's programme for the coming year and it will be an absolutely concrete programme."

But that has failed to quell the growing furore surrounding Mr Berlusconi, who dominates Italy's political landscape and ranks high in opinion polls despite the scandals and a recession.

Avvenire, the newspaper of the influential Italian Bishops Conference, in a Friday editorial questioned Mr Berlusconi's defence so far and urged him to clear up the facts quickly.

One Italian archbishop, Carlo Ghidelli, told Corriere della Sera newspaper yesterday that Mr Berlusconi must "deny the accusations with facts, not just words".

Powerful businessman Tarak Ben Ammar, however, had a different suggestion for the premier: he told the Corriere della Sera it may be time for a new first lady, much like French President Nicolas Sarkozy's marriage to model Carla Bruni.

"Having a woman by his side would be decisive for a man who is so sensitive to beauty, elegance and talent," Mr Ben Ammar said.