The trial of Silvio Berlusconi, former Italian prime minister and one of the wealthiest businessmen in Italy, has been adjourned shortly after it opened.

A judge in Milan decided to postpone the hearing to allow the defence to examine more documents.

Mr Berlusconi is facing charges of false accounting and corruption. They relate to the purchase of one of the luxury properties near Milan which is one of his main residences.

The former prime minister says he is the victim of a political vendetta.

Last month he was found guilty of accounting fraud and has been sentenced to 16 months in jail in another trial, though he is unlikely to have to serve time under current Italian criminal procedure.

In addition he is facing separate trials on two other counts - bribing tax officials and making illegal contributions to the Socialist Party's funds through Swiss bank accounts.

Mr Berlusconi, the head of the right-wing Forza Italia party, is now leader of the opposition in the Italian Parliament.

His former lawyer, Cesare Previti, who was defence minister in his right-wing coalition government in 1994, is also due to face trial later this year, on corruption charges.

He is accused of bribing judges in Rome to give favourable verdicts in cases concerning Mr Berlusconi's commercial business interests.
 

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