A long-time ally of former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi facing the final appeal to his conviction for Mafia association has been detained in Lebanon.

A convicted Mafia hit man today claimed Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi made a deal with the mob in the 1990s in exchange for political support.

A close political ally of Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi was convicted of ties with the Sicilian Mafia today and sentenced to nine years in prison, news reports said.