Berlusconi: Reporters have 'ugly faces'

MILAN, Italy, Sept. 19 (UPI) -- Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi told reporters Monday they have "ugly faces."

The Italian news agency ANSA reported his comment came outside a Milan courthouse where he appeared for a hearing into accusations he paid his former tax lawyer, David Mills, $600,000 to give false testimony about his business expenses.

"I'm doing fine. You are the ones with the ugly faces," Berlusconi told the reporters, then added, "I'm joking."

Berlusconi had termed the case "paradoxical, ridiculous and surreal" earlier this year and said Mills, a British lawyer, had worked "occasionally" for his Fininvest group, but he didn't remember "ever having met him."

Berlusconi faces four trials in Milan.

One involves allegations he paid to have sex with an underage prostitute and abused his power to cover it up.

Two others involve alleged fraud and corruption in his Mediaset companies.

Last week, a judge also ordered prosecutors to indict the premier for alleged involvement in the publication of illegally obtained wiretap evidence in Il Giornale, his brother Paolo Berlusconi's conservative newspaper.

ANSA said Berlusconi has denied wrongdoing, saying he's a victim of left-wing prosecutors and judges persecuting him for political reasons.