Berlusconi complains of "subversive" campaign

By Daniel Flynn and Antonella Cinelli

ROME (Reuters) - Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said Saturday he was the victim of an orchestrated campaign of "subversion" over his relationship with an 18-year-old model and his use of state planes.

The 72-year-old media tycoon, whose centre-right party comfortably won last weekend's local and European elections, told a meeting of business leaders that the campaign was aimed at replacing him with someone who had not been chosen by voters.

Berlusconi, who owns three of Italy's seven national TV channels, also urged media not to give time to the leader of the opposition, who responded by denouncing intimidation.

"To topple a prime minister democratically elected with the vote of the Italians and replace him with someone un-elected: if that is not subversion, what is?" said Berlusconi, in the resort of Santa Margherita Ligure. He did not provide further details.

The campaign for the local and European elections, in which Berlusconi's People of Liberty fell short of the 45 percent he forecast, was dominated by Berlusconi's lifestyle after his wife demanded a divorce and accused him of "frequenting minors."

Berlusconi, who was forced to deny having sex with 18-year-old Noemi Letizia, found himself on the defensive over photos showing topless women sunbathing at his luxury villa in Sardinia and allegations he used state planes to fly in guests.

Previously, Berlusconi blamed a row with Rupert Murdoch over pay TV tax for prompting negative coverage from News Corp of the Letizia case. Murdoch has denied this.

He urged business leaders to be optimistic in the face of the slowdown -- the worst since World War II -- and told media not to focus on "pessimists."