Defiant in the face of a sex scandal, Premier Silvio Berlusconi said today that he is still popular because Italians secretly want to be like him.

The estranged wife of Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi today unleashed another barrage of criticism as the sex scandal surrounding him refused to go away.

Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi today publicly denied ever paying women for sex, as he continues to struggle with a growing scandal over his links to young models and starlets.

ITALIAN Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi yesterday said photos in a Spanish newspaper of topless women sunbathing at his seaside villa were an invasion of privacy and his lawyer said he would take legal action.

Embattled Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi today promised he would resign immediately if he were shown to have lied about his relationship with an 18-year-old model at the heart of a scandal that has gripped the country for weeks.

THE ex-boyfriend of an 18-year-old woman at the heart of a scandal involving Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has apologised for having fuelled speculation about a presumed relationship between the two.

ITALIAN prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, facing demands to explain his relationship with a teenage girl, denied yesterday he had had a “steamy affair” and said he would have to resign if caught lying about it.

SILVIO BERLUSCONI has lashed out against an Italian newspaper who demanded the premier explain the nature of his relationship with an 18-year-old.

Silvio Berlusconi has lashed out against an Italian newspaper demanding that the premier explain the nature of his relationship with an 18-year-old.

SPAIN’S Crown Princess Letizia gave birth to a girl yesterday morning, who becomes second in line to the throne after her father Crown Prince Felipe, the royal palace said.

Princess Cristina, the second daughter of Spain’s King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, has given birth to a girl, her fourth child and the royal couple’s sixth grandchild, the Royal Palace said today.

Even torrential rain failed to dampen Spain’s spectacular royal wedding, according to the country’s newspapers today, with all highlighting that, apart from the glamour, the event marked a crucial moment for the future of the monarchy.

Spain's Crown Prince Felipe married former TV anchorwoman Letizia Ortiz before a sea of dignitaries today, putting a commoner in line to be queen for the first time in Spanish history.