Berlusconi to stand trial for bribery

ROME, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- An Italian judge has ordered former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to stand trial on allegations he bribed a senator to join his party in 2006.

Prosecutors charge Berlusconi used top aide Valter Lavitola, who has also been indicted, as a go-between to convince former Sen. Sergio DeGregorio to leave the center-left governing party of Romano Prodi, ANSA news agency reported.

DeGregorio took a plea deal Wednesday to a 20-month suspended sentence after admitting he accepted a bribe of 3 million euros to leave Prodi's governing party as part of Berlusconi's bid to regain power.

Berlusconi has denied the charges and, like the several other legal battles he faces, maintains the allegations are bent on destroying his political career.

Berlusconi has been convicted of tax fraud involving his vast media group. He's also appealing convictions he paid an underage prostitute for sex and used his office to cover it up and that he conspired to publish an illegal wire tap.

The trial over the bribery allegations will begin Feb. 11.