Berlusconi vows to battle on despite court removing his immunity

       Silvio Berlusconi angrilly vowed to battle on as Italy's prime minister despite facing corruption trials after the Constitutional Court stripped him of immunity fro prosecution.
       Italian newspapers said yesterday there was now a political war between Berlusconi,who is also under attqack over sex-scandal allegations, and President Giorgio Napolitano, who has insisted he will defend the country's constitution.
       After the court's bombshell ruling against him, Berlusconi said the trials he now risks were "real farces" he slammed the Constitutional Court as "left wing" and stood with a clenched fist, declared: "Viva Italy, Viva Berlusconi!"
       Berlusconi questioned the president's impartiality, said the Italian press was "72 per cnet left-wing" and made it clear he would not quit.
       "We must govern for five years with or without the law,"said the 73-year-old conservative tycoon, who insisted that he had the support of 70 per cent of the Italian people.
       Berlusconi now faces at least two legal battles.
       In one case, the conservative premier is accused of paying his British former tax lawyer David Mills US$600,000 (Bt20 million) to give false evidence in two trials in the 1990s. Mills has appealed against a guilty verdict made in February, when he was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in jail.
       Another case involves allegations that Berlusconi's Mediaset television emprire inflated figures for the purchase of brjoadcasting rights in order to created slush funds.
       La Stampa newsper said Berlusconi has up to 11 suspended trials "hanging over his head"