Berlusconi says acquittal 'better late than never'

A Milan court acquitted Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi on corruption charges that have dogged him throughout his term, a ruling he said was ”better late than never”.

By clearing the billionaire politician of charges he bribed judges in the 1980s, the three-judge panel's verdict yesterday deprived the centre-left opposition of fodder in the run-up to 2006 elections.