Berlusconi's lawyer denies archaeological scandal
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's lawyer denied the premier hid archaeological ruins at his Sardinian villa and said tapes purporting to show him boasting to a call girl were fake, newspapers said on Saturday.
The recordings, allegedly of Berlusconi in conversation with Patrizia D'Addario, have riveted Italy by revealing details of their purported sexual liaison. On Friday L'Espresso weekly released a further transcript in which the billionaire politician appeared to boast about tombs in the grounds of his island residence.
Under Italian law archaeological discoveries made on private property must be reported to authorities for inspection, cataloguing and possible excavation. The opposition has called for the government to clarify the matter in parliament.
"Prime Minister Berlusconi would never have talked about discovering 30 Phoenician tombs in his park, because nothing like that is there or has ever been found at the villa," said Niccolo Ghedini, who is also a legislator for Berlusconi's People of Freedom (PDL) party.
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The recordings, allegedly of Berlusconi in conversation with Patrizia D'Addario, have riveted Italy by revealing details of their purported sexual liaison. On Friday L'Espresso weekly released a further transcript in which the billionaire politician appeared to boast about tombs in the grounds of his island residence.
Under Italian law archaeological discoveries made on private property must be reported to authorities for inspection, cataloguing and possible excavation. The opposition has called for the government to clarify the matter in parliament.
"Prime Minister Berlusconi would never have talked about discovering 30 Phoenician tombs in his park, because nothing like that is there or has ever been found at the villa," said Niccolo Ghedini, who is also a legislator for Berlusconi's People of Freedom (PDL) party.