News: White House calls Berlusconi "an amateur"

Reporters travelling with President Bush to Japan received an interesting press kit in which the Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi was described as a political "amateur" who is "hated by many".

The "insulting" biography further depicted Berlusconi as "one of the most controversial leaders" of a country "known for governmental corruption and vice". It said Mr Berlusconi was "regarded by many as a political dilettante (amateur) who gained his high office only through use of his considerable influence on the national media".

Only last month, Mr Bush visited his old ally in Rome, calling him a "good friend".

The White House apologised for the goof. (Full)

Picture courtesy whitehouse.gov