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Berlusconi Slaps European Papers With Libel Suits

Lawyers probe 'cases of real, true defamation'

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 28, 2009 10:27 AM CDT

(Newser) – Silvio Berlusconi is suing Italian and foreign media outlets for libel regarding his personal life, Reuters reports. “We have instructed our colleagues to evaluate, according to the laws in their countries, the most serious cases of real, true defamation,” said the Italian PM's lawyer. Berlusconi’s legal team has already filed suits against Italian, French, and Spanish papers and is reviewing the situation in Britain.

Media mogul Berlusconi has said his competitor Rupert Murdoch has personally attacked him through the Times of London, a News Corp. property. At home, the lawyer said, the PM is suing frequent critic La Repubblica for “intolerable” smears which “discredit” Italy “because all foreign papers repeat these offenses as if they were true.”

Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi reacts during a press conference in Rome, Friday, Aug. 7, 2009.
Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi reacts during a press conference in Rome, Friday, Aug. 7, 2009.   (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)
Italian escort Patrizia D'Addario smiles during an Italian style party in Paris, Saturday Aug. 1, 2009. D'Addario is a high-end prostitute at the center of Berlusconi's sex scandal.
Italian escort Patrizia D'Addario smiles during an Italian style party in Paris, Saturday Aug. 1, 2009. D'Addario is a high-end prostitute at the center of Berlusconi's sex scandal.   (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi speaks during a press conference in Rome, Friday, Aug. 7, 2009.
Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi speaks during a press conference in Rome, Friday, Aug. 7, 2009.   (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)
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