US red-faced after calling Silvio ‘amateur’

The back slapping and bonhomie of the G8 summit in Japan momentarily disappeared yesterday when it emerged that Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was referred to as an "amateur" in an American press kit. The document in question contained a four-page biography of Berlusconi and was given out to journalists by White House staff. In it Berlusconi was referred to as "one of the most controversial leaders" of a country "known for governmental corruption and vice".

If that wasn't enough, the press kit went on to say that the Italian premier is "regarded by many as a political dilettante (amateur) who gained his high office only through use of his considerable influence on the national media". It does allow Berlusconi a little credit however, claiming he is "hated by many but respected by all at least for his bella figura (personal style) and the sheer force of his will".
 
As soon as the derogatory comments were spotted, White House spokesman Tony Fratto issued an apology. "A biography of Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi included in the press package used language that is insulting both to Prime Minister Berlusconi and to the Italian people," he said. "We apologise to Italy and to the prime minister for this very unfortunate mistake." Reporters were told later that the offending information had been lifted wholesale from the World Encyclopaedia of Biography and not checked for suitability. ·