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Berlusconi launches âpuppeteerâ libel case
(Great Pictures)Italian leader Silvio Berlusconi has launched a 15-million euro libel suit against the countryâs main opposition leader. Piero Fassino had accused the prime minister of being the "puppet master" behind allegations that senior left-wingers creamed off millions of euros from a business deal. BWAHAHAhahaha! Dance, my minions! Mr Berlusconiâs lawsuit, quoted by sources, said the comments could not pass unchallenged. "It is unacceptable...for assertions to be made that the current prime minister instigated, or worse, was directly involved in calumny," Mr Berlusconiâs suit said, according to the sources. Mr Fassino, leader of the Democrats of the Left party, now says he will seek the same amount - 15 million euros - from a paper edited by the prime ministerâs brother Paolo. The paper, Il Giornale, has frequently run details of the allegations on its front page. Pure coincidence, I assure you... The left-wing politicians at the centre of the allegations include European Commission president Romano Prodi, former foreign minister Lamberto Dini and Mr Fassino himself. All three deny wrongdoing. Posted by: mojo 2003-09-16 |
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