Berlusconi 'offered escort EU seat'

The escort at the centre of a sex scandal involving Silvio Berlusconi has said the Italian prime minister offered her a seat in the European Parliament.

Patrizia D'Addario told the BBC the plan was abandoned by his party, People of Freedom, after his wife complained.

He also did not pay her to sleep with him, but instead promised to resolve an issue over a building permit, she said.

The allegations follow the release of audio recordings purportedly of their liaison in his official Rome residence.

Mr Berlusconi has not denied that Ms D'Addario attended a party at the Palazzo Grazioli, but insists he did not pay for sex.

Mr Berlusconi's personal life has been under scrutiny since his wife, Veronica Lario, filed for divorce in May.More