La Repubblica sues Silvio Berlusconi

The Italian newspaper that has been posting recordings of a callgirl's adventures with Silvio Berlusconi is suing the Italian prime minister for calling it "subversive". La Repubblica issued the writ last night.

Berlusconi made the comment last month, before the sex scandal took its latest turn this week with the release of recordings and transcripts of Patrizia D'Addario's two visits to the prime minister's Rome residence, on the second of which she stayed the night. If the tapes are to be believed, the Italian leader and the single mother from Bari got very little sleep.

Yesterday, Berlusconi attempted to laugh off the scandal, telling a group of business executives and politicians in northern Italy: "There are a lot of pretty girls about. I am no saint but you know that."

He added: "Let's hope that those working at Repubblica understand that, too."

In one recording, Berlusconi is allegedly heard asking D'Addario to "wait by the big bed" while he takes a shower. In a recording of a conversation with Gianpaolo Tarantini, the Bari entrepreneur who arranged for D'Addario and other women to attend evenings at the Palazzo Grazioli, he is heard warning her that the prime minister will not want to use a condom.

Later yesterday, Berlusconi told executives of his People of Freedom Party: "Let's forget about all this low level stuff that does not injure me at all. I'm absolutely convinced that the Italians are not the blockheads the Left would like to make out."

Referring to the parties at the Palazzo Grazioli and at his villa in Sardinia, he said it was "not just showgirls who come to my house but heads of state too". He added: "As long as I'm present, nothing inelegant can happen because I'm a person of good taste, culture and elegance." ·