It takes a hero to say no to Silvio Berlusconi

Opposition leaders demanded an inquiry on Saturday to see if Italian government aircraft flew a bevy of young escorts to Premier Silvio Berlusconi’s private parties. Concern was also growing in Italy over whether Berlusconi can concentrate on rescuing Italy from its economic woes.

Italian newspapers were filled with transcripts of intercepted phone conversations of a jailed southern businessman, Gianpaolo Tarantini, who is being investigated for allegedly arranging and paying for women to prostitute themselves with the premier at parties at Berlusconi’s private residences in Rome, the Sardinia seacoast, and near Milan. Meanwhile, Italian actress Manuela Arcuri, who refused an alleged invitation to sleep with Berlusconi for a chance to host the country’s most prestigious music festival, the annual San Remo musical festival, has been hailed as a heroine by all, the Telegraph reported.