Italian PM remains popular despite divorce

ROME, May 8 (UPI) -- Italian opinion polls suggest Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's approval rating remains high despite his public divorce battle.

The polls suggest the public remains fond of the prime minister despite media reports of his divorce battle, which includes allegations of improper relations with an underage girl and a fondness for scantily clad TV presenters, The Times of London reported Friday.

One poll taken after Berlusconi's appearance Tuesday on a talk show on state-owned broadcasting network RAI put his approval rating at 66 percent. However, only 28 percent of respondents said they believed the prime minister when he said on the show that his divorce was the result of his wife, actress Veronica Lario, falling for lies perpetrated by the media and a left-wing conspiracy.

Sources close to Berlusconi said he was working to stave off negative publicity from the divorce, out of concern that voters could turn against him in the European Parliament elections scheduled for June.

The newspaper did not report details of the poll, including the size of the sample and the margin of error.