Berlusconi 'has made Italians a laughing stock around the world'

London, Jan 27 (ANI): Italy's bestselling Catholic publication has said that the sex scandal swirling around Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has made Italians a laughing stock around the world.

"Our young people abroad are called 'bunga bunga' Italians and that is not a flattering definition," the Telegraph quoted the Famiglia Cristiana (Christian Family) magazine as saying in an editorial.

Antonio Sciortino, the editor, said Italy's image had been "damaged around the world" as a result of the so-called "bunga bunga" scandal, in which Berlusconi is accused of paying for sex with "several" prostitutes during wild parties at his villa near Milan. He has denied any improper behaviour.

Father Sciortino was responding to four pages of letters in which readers expressed indignation over the prime minister's conduct and the harm it was doing to Italy's image.(ANI)