Berlusconi must face sex trial

Veteran political survivor Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi faced his biggest challenge yet today when he was ordered to stand trial on prostitution and abuse of power charges.

Mr Berlusconi, who has dodged corruption cases and no-confidence votes with the skill of an Olympic athlete, will appear in court on April 6 in Milan charged with paying for sex with a 17-year-old Moroccan girl and then trying to cover it up.