Berlusconi slams publication of topless women pics
Updated on 05 June 2009
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has slammed the publication of photos of topless women sunbathing at his Mediterranean villa.
The 72-year-old is no stranger to controversy and has denied a sexual relationship with 18-year-old aspiring model Noemi Letizia, which prompted his wife to ask for a divorce and stirred an outcry from the opposition.
He is also being investigated over the use of state planes to ferry guests to his luxury villa on the island of Sardinia.
Spain's El Pais newspaper published five photos, including two showing the premier walking within the villa grounds accompanied by women whose faces are blurred, and one of women sunbathing topless.
Mr Berlusconi's lawyer, Niccolo Ghedini, said he is filing a legal complaint against the paper and that action will be taken against Italy's La Repubblica newspaper for reprinting them.
"These pictures ... were seized in Italy because it was reckoned that they were derived from illegal behaviour," Mr Ghedini said, adding: "Anybody buying them anywhere in the world commits a crime."
Mr Berlusconi said: "These are innocent photos, there's no scandal but this is a violation of privacy and a scandalous aggression."
After a string of critical articles in The Times, Financial Times, Independent, France's Le Figaro and Germany's Die Welt, he has accused foreign newspapers of waging a campaign against him at the instigation of the left-wing press in Italy.
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