PROSECUTORS in Milan have requested that Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and British lawyer David Mills - estranged husband of Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell - face trial on corruption charges.

PROSECUTORS in Milan have requested that Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and British lawyer David Mills - estranged husband of Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell - face trial on corruption charges.

The move follows an into claims that Mr Berlusconi ordered the payment of at least £345,000 to Mr Mills, the estranged husband of Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell, in 1997 in return for him giving false evidence in two trials involving Mr Berlusconi.

Both men deny the charges.

Prosecutors have rushed to complete the probe and to try to bring the case to trial after the Italian Parliament passed a reform, backed by Mr Berlusconi's government, which reduced the statute of limitations on the charges. Now that the prosecutors have requested an indictment, it is left to a judge to decide whether Mr Mills and Mr Berlusconi should face trial.

The case has caused political problems for Mr Mills's wife. Ms Jowell has been cleared of any wrong-doing in connection with her husband's financial affairs.

But Tory MPs have sought to keep up the pressure on Ms Jowell by raising questions about other financial dealings by Mr Mills, not just the alleged £345,000 payment.