Berlusconi, nuns, belly dancing and Libya

SCANDAL-hit Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi is facing fresh revelations regarding his “bunga bunga’’ parties after a guest told prosecutors women dressed as nuns before performing pole-dancing stripteases.

Mr Berlusconi, 74, is said to have lavished gifts and money on dozens of women who were invited to his parties and who were recruited by half-British dental hygenist turned politician Nicole Minetti, 25, and two other friends of the politician.

According to a statement from one of the guests, Fadil Imane, which was given to prosecutors last month and which has been leaked, Miss Minetti and another guest, Barbara Faggioli, 25, dressed as nuns before stripping for Mr Berlusconi.

Moroccan-born Miss Imane, 26, said she had been invited to the parties by TV news anchorman Emilio Fede, 80, and showbusiness agent Lele Mora, 55, who with Miss Minetti are accused of recruiting dozens of young women, mainly showbusiness stars and models, for Mr Berlusconi.

Miss Imane said: “I went to the party and I met Silvio Berlusconi and the other girls … in the party room where there was a pole for dancing they put on nun tunics.”

She also told prosecutors in Milan that she had “performed a belly dance for Berlusconi’’ as well as advise him how “best to negotiate with then Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi’’.

Yesterday, Mr Berlusconi faced new accusations over the prostitution scandal seen as a dangerous distraction to Italy’s efforts to avert a debt crisis.

He is reported to have told Valter Lavitola, a consultant now wanted by police, to stay out of Italy during an investigation into an alleged extortion plot against the premier in which he was a suspect.

Lavitola and an associate are suspected of extorting €750,000 (£647,000) from Mr Berlusconi in return for not telling investigators he knew the women invited to his parties were prostitutes.