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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Berlusconi demands wife apology | Berlusconi demands wife apology |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Silvio Berlusconi has demanded an apology from his wife after she accused him of "consorting with minors" and said she wanted a divorce. | Silvio Berlusconi has demanded an apology from his wife after she accused him of "consorting with minors" and said she wanted a divorce. |
| The Italian prime minister, 72, told the Corriere della Sera that he did not think their marriage could survive. | The Italian prime minister, 72, told the Corriere della Sera that he did not think their marriage could survive. |
| Veronica Lario spoke out after her husband attended the 18th birthday party of a friend's daughter. | Veronica Lario spoke out after her husband attended the 18th birthday party of a friend's daughter. |
| She has also clashed with her husband over his choice of inexperienced but attractive female election candidates. | She has also clashed with her husband over his choice of inexperienced but attractive female election candidates. |
| "Veronica must apologise publicly - and I don't know if that will be enough," Mr Berlusconi said in an interview with the Italian daily newspaper. | "Veronica must apologise publicly - and I don't know if that will be enough," Mr Berlusconi said in an interview with the Italian daily newspaper. |
| "It is the third time she has done this to me in the middle of an election campaign. It's too much," the billionaire prime minister said. | "It is the third time she has done this to me in the middle of an election campaign. It's too much," the billionaire prime minister said. |
| Asked whether his 19-year marriage to Ms Lario could survive, he added: "I don't think so. I don't know if I want it to this time." | Asked whether his 19-year marriage to Ms Lario could survive, he added: "I don't think so. I don't know if I want it to this time." |
| 'Unwittingly misled' | 'Unwittingly misled' |
| He insisted he had done nothing wrong and said his wife had been unwittingly misled by the media. | He insisted he had done nothing wrong and said his wife had been unwittingly misled by the media. |
| "Veronica has believed many inaccurate things written in the press, unfortunately," he said. | "Veronica has believed many inaccurate things written in the press, unfortunately," he said. |
| I read in the papers about how he has been hanging around a minor - because he must have known her before she was 18 Veronica Lario | I read in the papers about how he has been hanging around a minor - because he must have known her before she was 18 Veronica Lario |
| La Stampa newspaper quoted Mr Berlusconi as saying he had handed the matter over to his lawyers and that his wife's comments might even warrant legal action. | La Stampa newspaper quoted Mr Berlusconi as saying he had handed the matter over to his lawyers and that his wife's comments might even warrant legal action. |
| "To tell the truth, there may even be conditions to sue for defamation, but it's best to leave that alone," he said. | "To tell the truth, there may even be conditions to sue for defamation, but it's best to leave that alone," he said. |
| The row began last week when Ms Lario, a 52-year-old former actress, wrote an open letter complaining about her husband's choice of young, attractive female candidates - some with little or no political experience - to represent his Freedom Party in June's EU elections. | The row began last week when Ms Lario, a 52-year-old former actress, wrote an open letter complaining about her husband's choice of young, attractive female candidates - some with little or no political experience - to represent his Freedom Party in June's EU elections. |
| But the final straw came when Ms Lario read that Mr Berlusconi had attended the 18th birthday party of the daughter of one of his business associates. | But the final straw came when Ms Lario read that Mr Berlusconi had attended the 18th birthday party of the daughter of one of his business associates. |
| The teenager is reported to be an aspiring TV starlet from Naples who calls the prime minister "Daddy". | |
| Mr Berlusconi was reported to have bought her a golden necklace studded with diamonds as a present. | Mr Berlusconi was reported to have bought her a golden necklace studded with diamonds as a present. |
| "That's enough, I cannot remain with a man who consorts with minors," Ms Lario was quoted as saying in La Repubblica. | "That's enough, I cannot remain with a man who consorts with minors," Ms Lario was quoted as saying in La Repubblica. |
| SILVIO BERLUSCONI Won third term as prime minister in 2008Fought off a series of corruption and fraud chargesPrivate fortune estimated at $6.5bn (£4.4bn)Owner of AC Milan football club Profile: Silvio Berlusconi | SILVIO BERLUSCONI Won third term as prime minister in 2008Fought off a series of corruption and fraud chargesPrivate fortune estimated at $6.5bn (£4.4bn)Owner of AC Milan football club Profile: Silvio Berlusconi |
| "I read in the papers about how he has been hanging around a minor - because he must have known her before she was 18 - and how she called him 'Grandpa' and about their meetings in Rome and Milan. | "I read in the papers about how he has been hanging around a minor - because he must have known her before she was 18 - and how she called him 'Grandpa' and about their meetings in Rome and Milan. |
| "This is no longer acceptable. How can I stay with such a man?" La Stampa quoted her as saying. | "This is no longer acceptable. How can I stay with such a man?" La Stampa quoted her as saying. |
| She also said Mr Berlusconi had failed to attend his own daughters' 18th birthday celebrations. | She also said Mr Berlusconi had failed to attend his own daughters' 18th birthday celebrations. |
| The BBC's David Willey, in Rome, say the spat between Mr Berlusconi and his wife is filling the pages of Italy's newspapers. | The BBC's David Willey, in Rome, say the spat between Mr Berlusconi and his wife is filling the pages of Italy's newspapers. |
| Even one of Mr Berlusconi's political allies, Umberto Bossi, is quoted as saying "if I had a starlet as a girlfriend, my wife wouldn't let me back into the house!". | Even one of Mr Berlusconi's political allies, Umberto Bossi, is quoted as saying "if I had a starlet as a girlfriend, my wife wouldn't let me back into the house!". |
| The current dispute is not the first time Mr Berlusconi and Ms Lario have aired their differences in public. | The current dispute is not the first time Mr Berlusconi and Ms Lario have aired their differences in public. |
| In 2007, Mr Berlusconi issued a written statement apologising to his wife for flirting with other women after she demanded a public apology. | In 2007, Mr Berlusconi issued a written statement apologising to his wife for flirting with other women after she demanded a public apology. |
| Ms Lario is Mr Berlusconi's second wife. The couple have three children, all in their 20s. | Ms Lario is Mr Berlusconi's second wife. The couple have three children, all in their 20s. |
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