Berlusconi conspiracy by left-wing magistrates but also pointed their fingers at the fact that some of the charges levelled against him had only been dropped because Italy's statute of limitations had intervened. "The statute of limitations has allowed Berlusconi to save himself by a whisker," said Antonio Di Pietro, a former anti-graft magistrate and now an opposition leader. Giulio Andreotti, a seven-time Prime Minister who was recently cleared of Mafia association charges, said he was happy for Berlusconi. Berlusconi, who was not present in court Friday, had become Italy's first ever serving premier to face trial. -
