Italy's Constitutional Court, the Consulta, struck down Thursday parts of a law passed by parliament in 2010 exempting Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi from attending trials for cases involving him, dpa quoted news reports as saying. The so-called "legitimate impediment" provision has allowed Berlusconi's lawyers to claim that his government duties prevent him from appearing in court. The Consulta ruled that magistrates, and not the prime minister's office, must ultimately decide whether he can be excused from appearing at hearings due to his official engagements, the ANSA newsagency said. The 15-member Consulta - 14 men and one woman - reached its decision on the constitutionality of the law following deliberations which began on Tuesday. A rejection of the "legitimate impediment" would have reopened at least two trials - one dealing with corruption and the other tax fraud - involving media billionaire-turned-politician Berlusconi. Speaking in Berlin on Wednesday, Berlusconi described the trials as "ridiculous". -- SPA
