Berlusconi accused of bribery

Investigating magistrates in Milan have asked for criminal charges to be filed against the former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, for attempting to bribe judges in Rome.

Mr Berlusconi is alleged to have tried to influence the judges by paying them large sums of money to to fix the verdict in cases involving his business interests.

He denies the accusation, saying he's the victim of a political vendetta by the Milan judiciary.

Mr Berlusconi has already been found guilty of false accounting, and he's currently on trial charged with tax fraud and contributing illegally to political party funds.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service