Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's approval ratings slid four percentage points in November as the media mogul's legal troubles mounted, according to an opinion poll cited by an Italian newspaper today.

Berlusconi's approval ratings fell to 50.1 percent at the start of December from 54.4 percent in early November, La Stampa newspaper said, citing an Ipsos poll.

Poll respondents said they felt Berlusconi's legal headaches would distract from government duties, the paper said.

The lower ratings meant Berlusconi's government, which enjoys approval ratings of 53.2 percent, is more popular than the prime minister himself, the newspaper said.

Some of the prime minister's critics, including President Giorgio Napolitano and conservative ally Gianfranco Fini, also had higher popularity ratings than Berlusconi, the paper said.

Stripped of immunity from prosecution, Berlusconi faces the reopening of a number of trials against him, including one on charges of bribery and corruption and another for tax fraud.

Last week, a mobster linked Berlusconi to the Cosa Nostra, but that testimony was contradicted by a jailed Mafia boss who said he never had links with a close associate of the premier.

Berlusconi says allegations against him are unfounded and part of a campaign by biased courts to bring down the government.

He used a speech at the European People's Party meeting in Bonn this week to vent his anger at magistrates, who he said were trying to substitute parliament and conduct a "manhunt" against him.