The prostitute at the centre of Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi's sex scandal claims she slept with him believing he would help her set up a countryside inn but she got "nothing" in return.

Under-fire Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi tried to laugh off the increasingly sordid sex scandal enveloping him today, joking that he was "no saint".

ITALIAN Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's private life was back in the spotlight when a leading news group posted audio tapes and transcripts of what it said were conversations with a female escort.

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.