Berlusconi associate admits 'excess' at 'bunga bunga' parties

A close associate of Silvio Berlusconi said on Friday he agreed with descriptions of "bunga bunga" parties at the former prime minister's palatial residence as "excess, abuse of power and degradation."

Show-business agent Lele Mora, one of three people charged with aiding and abetting under-aged prostitution, told a court in Milan that he had taken young women to the parties and had received a loan from Berlusconi. He denied that he had pushed the women into prostitution but delivered an unusually severe judgement on the evenings, which Berlusconi has repeatedly described as "elegant dinners". (Reuters)