FRANCE: Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi slams Italian press reports about an alleged tirade launched at U.S. President Barack Obama and says that Libya is imploding.

Record ID: 1537074

  • Title: FRANCE: Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi slams Italian press reports about an alleged tirade launched at U.S. President Barack Obama and says that Libya is imploding.
  • Date: 28th May 2011
  • Summary: DEAUVILLE, FRANCE (MAY 27, 2011) (REUTERS) EXTERIORS BRIEFING ROOMS AT DEAUVILLE G8 SUMMIT PRIME MINISTER SILVIO BERLUSCONI ARRIVING ON STAGE (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER SILVIO BERLUSCONI SAYING: "Apart from the fact that only an out of context fragment of a wider discussion was reported, I do feel that it is my precise institutional duty every time I meet heads of state and government to explain to them what the situation is in Italy. Especially when it's in relation to affairs that could damage the credibility of those who represent the country." REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER SILVIO BERLUSCONI SAYING: "Everybody's opinion is that this current regime is imploding. As you know NATO has requested an extension of its operations which are carrying out the United Nations resolution by 90 days. And everyone is convinced that we must continue, and continue with resolve so that the current regime can be substituted with a democratic one." REPORTERS BERLUSCONI NEWS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 12th June 2011 02:10
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France, France
  • Country: France
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA86QSZ6SZJGCIUIUGANSV4T6HG
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Friday (May 27) denied widespread Italian newspaper reports that he had launched a tirade about his country's judiciary when talking to U.S. President Barack Obama during the G8 summit in Deauville, and said that the Group of Eight leaders all felt the Libyan regime was imploding.
    At a news conference which he kicked off with a tirade against Italian judges he says are trying to force him from power, Berlusconi said he had mentioned the trials he was facing during discussions with Obama. But he said the conversation was brief.
    "Apart from the fact that only an out of context fragment of a wider discussion was reported, I do feel that it is my precise institutional duty every time I meet heads of state and government to explain to them what the situation is in Italy. Especially when it's in relation to affairs that could damage the credibility of those who represent the country," he told reporters.
    Berlusconi is currently facing several trials in Milan over his business and personal dealings. He denies any wrongdoing and accuses prosecutors of trying to force him from power.
    Speaking in the French resort town of Deauville where he attended a summit meeting of the Group of Eight industrialised nations, Berlusconi also said he and fellow leaders felt the regime of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was imploding and would not last much longer.
    "Everybody's opinion is that this current regime is imploding. As you know NATO has requested an extension of its operations which are carrying out the United Nations resolution by 90 days. And everyone is convinced that we must continue, and continue with resolve so that the current regime can be substituted with a democratic one," he said.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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