Berlusconi sex trial hearing adjourned after 10 minutes

Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's trial on charges he paid an underage girl for sex opened yesterday and was adjourned until 31 May after a hearing that lasted just ten minutes.

Mr Berlusconi, who has suffered relatively limited political damage from the "Rubygate" case, did not attend the session, preferring to chair a ministerial meeting in Rome.

Crowds of critics and supporters sparred verbally outside the court over whether the 74-year-old should go to prison over his connection with Moroccan-born teenager Karima El Mahroug, a nightclub dancer with the stage name of Ruby.

Berlusconi is accused of giving Ruby cash and jewels in exchange for sex when she was 17 years old and thus too young under Italian law to be paid as a prostitute.

He is also accused of abusing the powers of his office to have her released from police custody. He denies the charges