ABC News Europe correspondent Emma Alberici and staff reports:...
>>>ABC News Europe correspondent Emma Alberici and staff reports:
Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi is involved in another sex scandal, denying allegations he paid to have sex with a 17-year-old belly dancer.
Prosecutors in the northern city of Milan are investigating allegations of underage prostitution and abuse of power stemming from the prime minister's decision to call a police station and have Moroccan dancer Ruby - real name Karima El Mahroug - freed from custody.
Mr Berlusconi denies any wrongdoing, claiming he has been in a steady relationship since separating from his wife, Veronica Lario, in 2009.
He said it was absurd to even think he would pay to have sex with a woman because he considers such an act as degrading.
Mr Berlusconi says he only gave the girl money out of what he describes as "friendship and affection".
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/01/18/3115273.htm?section=world
