Italian prime minister's daughter tells of 'bitterness' over sex scandals

Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's daughter has spoken of her bitterness at the sex scandals her father has been embroiled in.

Barbara, 26, said at times she felt she was "not in tune with the thoughts and political actions" of her father but it did not mean she "loved him any less".

Mr Berlusconi, 74, has been involved in series of sex scandals since last April, starting with his questionable relationship with a 18-year-old lingerie model Naomi Letizia.

It then emerged high-class escorts were among guests invited to parties he hosted at his official residence, with one claiming she was paid to spend the night with him.

Then, last month, he was linked to Moroccan belly dancer Karima El Mahroug, 18, who was also a guest at a party he hosted.

Barbara - the oldest of Berlusconi's three children with his second wife Veronica Lario - said: ""These episodes (sex scandals] have left me bitter. I find it hard to find an answer for them. But I have to try and believe my father."

She added: "Sometimes I have found myself not being in tune with the thoughts and political actions of Silvio Berlusconi, that doesn't make me a bad daughter and I don't love my father less."