Silvio Berlusconi wants licence fees withheld from state television

Published on Friday 28 January 2011 14:34

EMBATTLED Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has urged millions of Italians to break the law and not pay their television licence following a series of shows which have criticised him.

Mr Berlusconi, 74, is facing an investigation by prosecutors over allegations he had sex with an under-age prostitute and that he abused his position after he allegedly used his influence to get the girl freed from custody when she was arrested.

The media tycoon turned politician made his request after watching a show on Italian state TV broadcaster RAI called Annozero - a show with which he has clashed repeatedly.

The director-general of RAI said he wanted nothing to do with the programme, which ran a series of damning reports on the scandal swirling around Mr Berlusconi.

Mr Berlusconi said: "It's shameful that our supporters were not allowed into the audience. It is a dictatorship; Italians should not pay the licence fee because the majority of them voted for Silvio Berlusconi and they are forced to watch something which is not representative of a public service.''