Berlusconi and Mills face fresh trial threat

ITALIAN prosecutors have requested that the estranged husband of Britain's culture Secretary Tessa Jowell stands trial for corruption alongside Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

The move came as Ms Jowell - who separated with David Mills last week amid the controversy over his financial dealings - faced fresh claims she had breached ministerial rules.

International lawyer Mr Mills faces allegations he received at least €500,000 from Mr Berlusconi in 1997 in return for giving false evidence in two trials involving the Italian PM.

Both men deny the charges. Prosecutors have rushed to complete the probe and to try to bring the case to trial after the Italian Parliament passed a reform, backed by Mr Berlusconi's government, which reduced the statute of limitations on the charges.

Once the prosecutors have requested an indictment, it is left to a judge to decide whether Mr Mills and Mr Berlusconi should face trial.

But one observer said time would run out on the case before the deadline of 2008. Rome-based lawyer Giovanni di Stefano said: "This is a case that is going nowhere, even if they are guilty as hell - which I don't believe them to be.

"They can never finish this process by 2008."

Supporters of Mr Berlusconi - who faces a general election on April 9 - have also accused the prosecutors in Milan of being politically motivated. The case has also caused political problems for Mr Mills's wife.

Ms Jowell has been cleared of any wrong-doing in connection with her husband's financial affairs but cabinet secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell faced fresh demands from a Tory MP to reopen inquiries into whether she broke the ministerial code.

But Tory MP Nigel Evans has written to him again claiming she had a conflict of interest because of pub shares linked to Mr Mills.

Reports last weekend said he bought shares in the Old Monk Company while his wife was a public health minister involved in considering changes to the licensing laws. Ms Jowell has denied Mr Mills ever owned the shares.

Mr Evans took up the matter after reports that Mr Mills received profits from the offshore company which did buy the shares and so benefited directly from them - a claim he has reportedly denied.

Downing Street refused to comment on the developments in Milan.

Prime Minister Tony Blair's official spokesman told reporters: "As we have been saying since last week you have to separate out two things: the issues surrounding Tessa Jowell which have been dealt with, and the Italian case, which we will not comment on, nor we should be commenting on any more than we would comment on a case in this country."

Mr Blair has consistently backed his culture secretary during the controversy.