Berlusconi to host G8 on shaky ground (Feature)

By Peter Mayer Jul 2, 2009, 5:05 GMT

L'Aquila, Italy - The sprawling police training school on the outskirts of L'Aquila that is set to host the upcoming Group of Eight (G8) summit is built to withstand almost any earthquake that might strike the Italian city, experts say.

Just in case, helicopters will be on standby to lift US President Barack Obama and other world leaders to safety in the event of tremors similar to that which killed almost 300 people and left some 60,000 homeless in April.

But for Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, shocks of a different kind could yet mar his role as summit host.

The 72-year-old media magnate-turned-politician is embroiled in a sex scandal which in recent months has led to the collapse of his marriage and threatens his international statesman aspirations.

Ahead of the summit, touting his long-time friendship with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Berlusconi said he can mend ties between Russia and NATO and act as intermediary between Washington and Moscow.

Newspapers however, have been more interested in publishing salacious details of Berusconi's alleged encounter with a high-end prostitute at his Rome residence, and photographs showing topless women on the grounds of his luxury Sardinian villa.

The premier could yet be called to testify by prosecutors probing alleged payments made to several women recruited to attend parties he hosted.

Meanwhile, Italian women's rights activists have launched an online petition calling on female spouses of G8 leaders - including Michelle Obama and Carla Bruni-Sarkozy - to boycott the summit to protest Berlusconi's 'offensive' attitude towards women.

Berlusconi has tried to shrug off the criticism, saying he hopes the first ladies will tour the earthquake-damaged sites, and 'adopt' some of the post-quake reconstruction projects.

Still, with more than 6,000 journalists set to cover the G8 summit, the premier must be dreading the impact that any new revelations about his personal life could have.

Berlusconi will recall the embarrassment he suffered in 1994 when, during a United Nations crime conference in Naples, he was served notice that he was under investigation for alleged bribery - a move that eventually led to the collapse of his first government.

But Berlusconi can hardly have fond memories of the 2001 G8 summit in Genoa - his second as host - when hundreds were injured and one anti-globalization demonstrator was shot dead by police during bloody street clashes.

Security concerns had prompted Italy to initially select the Sardinian island of La Maddalena as the 2009 venue. It was switched to L'Aquila following the earthquake - a move Berlusconi said would bring funds to reconstruct the city.

The premier won wide praise for his on-site coordination of rescue efforts, but in recent weeks many survivors staying in tent shelters have angrily denounced what they say are inadequate measures to rebuild their homes.

Sensing potential allies, anti-G8 groups from around Europe say they are considering bringing their demonstrations directly to L'Aquila after initially planning to congregate in major Italian cites such as Rome and Milan.

L'Aquila however, appears ill-equipped to deal with any kind of marches and sit-ins, peaceful or otherwise.

Almost three months after the earthquake struck, piles of crumbled masonry are still visible while scaffolding often supports those buildings that managed to remain aloft.

The city's medieval centre is largely off-limits, except to residents who are allowed brief, supervised visits to collect goods from their abandoned homes.

On one such recent visit, Walter Capezzali and his wife travelled 105 kilometres from Pescara a seaside city where they have been staying since they evacuated their 16th century home in L'Aquila.

'I've come to keep an eye on my collection of 10,000 books,' said Capezzali, a former chief university librarian and member of the cultural association, Deputazione Storia Patria Abruzzo.

Down a narrow alley strewn with rubble, Capezzali points out a cracked building that used to house a relative's oculist's studio now transferred to the annex of the local police station.

'Let's hope the G8 brings this city back to life,' he said.