New Fondle Pix Threaten G8 Shame for Berlusconi

Turns out El Duche was a douche

(NEWSER) - Benito Mussolini and Silvio Berlusconi: Both charismatic leaders of Italy, both wildly popular, both…voracious sexual omnivores. The Independent takes a look at two recent publications—a diary by Mussolini’s mistress, and a memoir by a prostitute who supposedly spent two nights with Berlusconi. A sampling of the salacious details:

• The morning after: Berlusconi offered up coffee or tea and gave a gem-encrusted tortoise as a parting gift; Mussolini’s flings ended without “coffee, liqueur, or even a piece of cake,” writes Clara Petacci in her diary.

He 'can't remember' the night escort says they had sex

(NEWSER) - Stubbornly unrepentant Silvio Berlusconi is insisting Italians support his behavior and "would like to be" him, reports the Telegraph. "Italians aren't stupid, and they prefer my government," added the randy prime minister, 74, on Italian television. The man who last week called himself "superman" insisted that "nothing spicy" happened between him and a teen model he was dogging. He also repeated that he "couldn't remember" the night an escort said they had sex. More»

(NEWSER) - An editor of a Catholic newspaper criticized for a gay affair in a publication owned by the brother of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is out of a job, reports the New York Times. He resigned just days after he slammed the randy head of state in an editorial for his multiple dalliances with young women. Belusconi's brother shot back in Il Giornale that editor Dino Boffo was a "homosexual known to the secret services" who settled a suit for harrasing the girlfriend of a gay lover. More»

Scandal-ridden Italian premier disinvited from pardoning religious ceremony

(NEWSER) - He may still be beloved by Italian voters, but there’s clearly no love lost between Silvio Berlusconi and the Vatican, the Wall Street Journal reports. The Holy See has disinvited the scandal-ridden Italian premier from a religious service and dinner after a newspaper owned by his brother ran a scathing article criticizing an influential Roman Catholic newspaper editor. “It was a very strong attack,” a Vatican official said of the salacious front-page report. More»

Italians worry sex scandals will tarnish country's image

(NEWSER) - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is playing host to world leaders at the G8 meeting but many Italians fear his penchant for hosting teenage girls and escorts at his villa will overshadow and hurt the summit, the Los Angeles Times reports. Sex scandals have dogged the PM for months, trying the patience of normally tolerant Italians who worry that his antics are beginning to damage the country's image. More»