Berlusconi's bribery trial put on hold

MILAN, Italy, Oct. 24 (UPI) -- Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was excused from court Monday because of his government commitments and his bribery trial was put on hold.

Berlusconi was due in a Milan court to respond to claims he paid lawyer David Mills $600,000 to give favorable testimony in two previous trials, the Italian news agency ANSA reported.

The prime minister's lawyer, Niccolo Ghedini, asked the court to excuse Berlusconi, saying he had a "legitimate impediment," as he was due to meet President Giorgio Napolitano and other leaders in Rome.

Prosecutor Fabio De Pasquale accepted Berlusconi's claim and the judge adjourned the trial until Nov. 28.

The Mills trial, stalled in April 2010 by a judge, was continued in January by a ruling from the Constitutional Court and began again in March.