Berlusconi bribery trial postponed

A hearing against Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi for alleged bribery was postponed Friday to allow him to attend. It will take place on 21 March. Berlusconi said earlier this week that he is ready to defend himself in court but can only attend on Mondays.

Reuters/Alessandro Garofalo

In a letter read out to the Milan court on Friday, Berlusconi excused himself for his absence, which is due to a special European Union summit on Libya.

"I will dedicate Sundays to preparing and Mondays to appearing in courtrooms, where I think I will get great satisfation," Berlusconi said on Thursday.

The trial is examining allegations that Berlusconi paid tax lawyer David Mills a 400,000-euro bribe to provide false evidence during two trials in the 1990s.

But in March 2010 all trials against Berlusconi were suspended after a law was passed giving the prime minister and members of the cabinet automatic legal immunity for 18 months.

The law was ruled unconstitutional in January by Italy’s top court, allowing the trial to resume.

Berlusconi is also due to go on trial in April over accusations that he had sex with an underage prostitute and abuse of power.