Italian immunity bill aids Berlusconi

ROME, June 27 (UPI) -- The Italian government is seeking immunity for top institutional figures while in office in a move allegedly protecting Premier Silvio Berlusconi.

The new bill is a revised version of a 2003 law ruled unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court, halting a Berlusconi corruption trial, the Italian news agency ANSA reported.

The proposal provides immunity for the Italian president, the premier, the two parliamentary speakers and the head of the Constitutional Court.

Earlier in the week, in a move the opposition also claims is meant to help Berlusconi, the Senate passed a bill that would freeze trials for a year for certain less serious crimes committed before June 30, 2002.

Both bills are expected to be passed soon, probably before the parliament's summer recess at the end of July, reports say. Berlusconi has a comfortable legislative majority.