Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi branded a tax fraud case against him "ridiculous" ahead of a court hearing in Milan.

He waved to a crowd of reporters as he entered the closed-door hearing today.

Prosecutors allege fraud over the sale of film rights by his Mediaset company.

The premier has always denied wrongdoing, and today he said in comments on TV that the accusations are "groundless and ridiculous" and the case is politically motivated.

It is one of four cases involving Mr Berlusconi.

Earlier this year, Italy's Constitutional Court watered down a law promoted by his government which shielded him from prosecution.

A trial on allegations that he had sex with an under-age prostitute opens next month.

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