Italian judge dismisses Berlusconi defamation suit

MILAN, Italy, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- An Italian judge has dismissed a defamation case that has ties to an alleged sex party at former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's villa in Milan.

The judge dropped the case filed by Italian television personality Emilio Fede, who claimed two women defamed him by saying he took them to an alleged sex party at the former premier's mansion, the ANSA news agency reported Tuesday.

In his lawsuit filed in April, Fede said statements leaked to the media were "absolutely false and denigratory" to him and other people cited.

The two former beauty contestants provided accounts of Berlusconi's alleged "bunga bunga" parties and claimed Fede told them they should have have sex with him and Berlusconi if they wanted to advance their careers, ANSA said.

Berlusconi said he was "disgusted" by the women's account, ANSA said. Prosecutors said the testimony was an "important" element of their sex scandal case.

In an unrelated case, Berlusconi faces charges of having sex with an underage prostitute and using his influence to secure her release from jail.

Fede also has denied separate charges of furnishing prostitutes to Berlusconi.