Silvio Berlusconi 'given pole dancing treat'

Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's office today denied reports he had been entertained by pole dancers on a visit to Brazil.

Mr Berlusconi, 73, who has been involved in a series of scandals, was said to have been treated to the show in a hotel room.

Aides in Rome said the reports were "wide of the mark" and described the event as a "brief display of traditional local dancing".

A dancer named Alexandra Valenca, 28, claimed she was paid £900. She said: "We were hired and told that it was a proposal to make a TV show for Italy. We were told that that he wanted to see some dancing."

The event is said to have taken place on Monday at the Hotel Tivoli in Sao Paolo after a "packed day of meetings" between Berlusconi and Brazilian president Lula da Silva.