Berlusconi inquiry over TV boxes

Mr Berlusconi is accused of aiding his brother's firm

Italy's competition authority has launched an inquiry into PM Silvio Berlusconi over a possible conflict of interest regarding digital TV decoders.

It comes after Brussels launched a similar probe on Wednesday into the Italian state's payment of 200m euros (£137m) to subsidise the set-top boxes.

Investigators will decide whether the subsidies unfairly aid Mr Berlusconi's television company, Mediaset.

The prime minister has faced a number of corruption accusations in the past.

"The probe regards the prime minister... and aims to clarify whether there was a conflict of interest with regard to the funding set aside in the budget for the purchase of decoders," Italy's competition authority said in a statement.

Mr Berlusconi's office declined to comment.