Silvio Berlusconi's death leaves 'huge void', allies say

Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian former PM who bounced back from sex scandals and corruption cases, has died aged 86.

He died at the San Raffaele hospital in Milan. In April, he was treated for a lung infection linked to leukaemia.

Berlusconi's death leaves a "huge void", Italy's defence minister said. A flamboyant billionaire media tycoon, he first came to political office in 1994.

He led four governments until 2011, becoming the longest-serving prime minister in post-war Italy.

Last September, Berlusconi's centre-right Forza Italia party went into coalition under right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. read more