FROM afar Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi seems a vain, powerful man used to getting his way.

Veteran political survivor Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi faced his biggest challenge yet today when he was ordered to stand trial on prostitution and abuse of power charges.

An Italian judge today ordered premier Silvio Berlusconi to stand trial on charges he paid for sex with a 17-year-old girl and then tried to cover it up.