Italy court partially strikes down Berlusconi trial law

Italy's top court partially struck down on Thursday a law shielding Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi from prosecution, allowing individual judges to decide whether he can be forced to face trial, sources close to the court said.

Citing "qualified sources", Italian news agency ANSA said the court ruled that Berlusconi could not automatically invoke a "legitimate impediment" claim exempting him and cabinet ministers from attending trails in progress because of their official duties.

Reuters