Silvio Berlusconi cleared of fraud

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Silvio Berlusconi was cleared by a court in Milan yesterday in a tax fraud and embezzlement case involving his Mediaset media company.

The court did, however, indict the Prime Minister's eldest son Pier Silvio Berlusconi, Fedele Confalonieri, respectively the deputy chairman and chairman of Mediaset, and nine others. The trial is set for 22 December.

The case centres on accusations that Mediaset acquired TV rights at inflated prices. Mr Berlusconi said: "I was accused of something that doesn't exist in heaven or on Earth." Prosecutors said they will appeal against the decision to clear Mr Berlusconi, who still faces three active trials in Milan.