Silvio Berlusconi caught in 'sex boast'

ROME, Sept. 17 (UPI) -- Italian media published transcripts of phone calls in which Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi allegedly boasts 11 women were waiting to have sex with him.

Businessman Giampolo Tarantini, who is suspected of operating a large prostitution ring, was allegedly the other person on the line in the transcripts, published by newspapers Saturday, the BBC reported.

In one call, dated Jan. 1, 2009, Berlusconi said he only "did" eight of the women outside his room, because "you can't do all."

Berlusconi is denying that events such as this were orgy parties.

"They were nothing but friendly gatherings," Berlusconi's lawyers, Niccolo Ghedini and Piero Longo, said in a statement.

Eight people have been charged with supplying Berlusconi with prostitutes. Berlusconi has so far not been charged.

The prime minister will not appear before prosecutors investigating his alleged use of prostitutes, ANSA reported.

"At this time Berlusconi will not be presenting himself to Naples prosecutors," Longo told ANSA Friday.

Berlusconi was scheduled to meet with Naples prosecutors Tuesday but instead skipped the meeting to fly to Strasbourg, France, to meet with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and other officials.