ITALY: 19 Jan UPDATE: President Says Italy "In Turmoil" Over Berlusconi Probe; Wiretap Transcripts Leaked.

LINK CHANGE/ BBC/

    More revelations about P.M. Silvio Berlusconi, the billionaire media lothario that we love to loathe, as Italy's president says his nation is "in turmoil" over recent accusations.
    Transcripts of wiretaps have quoted the then 17-year-old Karima El Mahroug, aka Rubi Rubicouri (pictured right), as saying she asked Berlusconi for hush money, perhaps $6 million usd, and was told by him that she would receive "as much money as you want" if she kept quiet.
    Milan prosecutors allege in a 385 page report that Berlusconi had sex with a "significant" number of women, some underage, for money at his residence near Milan.
    Also that Berlusconi provided free apartments for women at a Milan housing complex that he built in the 1970s before he entered politics.
    "You can't even imagine what goes on there," said one woman after a party at Berlusconi's residence. "The papers say a lot less than the truth, even when they massacre him."
     Another woman was reported as saying: "You are either ready for everything or you get a taxi and leave."
     The P.M. denied having ever paid for sex and said his parties were "tranquil".

    Also, current Lombardy official, Nicole Minetti (pictured above), formerly Berlusconi's dental hygienist, is alleged to have recruited "a significant number of young women, who prostituted themselves with Berlusconi". Minetti denies the allegations.