The protest took took place in Piazza del Popolo in central Rome on Saturday, February 27, under a banner reading "Enough. The law is the same for everyone." Organizers estimated the turnout at around 200,000 people.

Berlusconi is on trial for allegedly paying $600,000 (440,000 euros) to British tax lawyer David Mills, who gave false testimony to protect Berlusconi during two trials in the mid-1990s.

Mills' parallel trial for the same crime was thrown out by Italy's appeals court on Thursday after the statute of limitations had expired. Judges determined, however, that the crime had taken place.

State of limitations

Italian law sets a 10-year limit for prosecution of judiciary corruption crimes. Terms for Berlusconi's trial are set to expire in early 2011.

Berlusconi's lawyers had asked the court to suspend the trial until details on the Mills ruling were published, but judges refused because "the trial cannot be suspended for an undetermined amount of time."

The prime minister, who also faces another trial on charges of tax fraud, says he has been hounded by "communist" magistrates, who are a like "band of Talibans."

Berlusconi's battles with the law have marked his public life since he burst on to the political scene in the mid-1990s.The media tycoon has faced numerous charges including corruption, tax fraud, false accounting and illegally financing political parties.

smh/afpe/Reuters
Editor: Toma Tasovac