Berlusconi’s woes worsenwith fresh sex allegations

ITALY’S scandal-plagued Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi faced fresh legal and political headaches yesterday, with sliding approval ratings and fresh revelations of parties and young women paid for sex.

As Rome grapples to contain a financial storm that risks sending its €1.9 trillion public debt pile sliding out of control, Berlusconi’s legal problems have proved an increasingly surreal distraction from the crisis.

Newspapers yesterday were packed with photographs of young women associated with Berlusconi and businessman Giampaolo Tarantini, suspected of providing prostitutes for Berlusconi’s private parties.