Berlusconi urged to quit over sex scandal

ITALIAN opposition parties stepped up calls yesterday for Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to resign over a probe into allegations he paid for sex with several young women, including a 17-year-old nightclub dancer.

Pressure on the prime minister grew after magistrates sent a report to parliament alleging a “significant” number of young women prostituted themselves with Berlusconi at his homes.

“If the prime minister has a crumb of dignity he should resign and go before investigators to face the infamous charges,” Dario Francheschini, parliamentary leader of the largest opposition party, the Democratic Party, told the lower house.