Berlusconi inquiry 'breaches privacy'

An ally of Silvio Berlusconi has said the Italian government may appeal before the European Court of Human Rights, alleging that a prostitution inquiry targeting the premier is a violation of his privacy.

Prosecutors want to put Mr Berlusconi on trial on charges he had sex with a 17-year-old and tried to cover it up. Mr Berlusconi has dismissed the allegations as a smear campaign. Franco Frattini, the Foreign Minister, said that on the privacy-violation issue "there is rich jurisprudence" at the court in Strasbourg.