Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has denied claims he paid a woman for sex.

Mr Berlusconi faces growing political pressure over lurid allegations that he slept with a female escort who was paid to attend his parties.

His credibility has come under attack over a string of scandals related to his friendship with an 18-year-old girl and parties with young women

But he insisted: "I have never paid a woman. I've never understood what satisfaction there is other than that of conquering a woman."

Opposition parties and the influential Catholic Church are calling on Mr Berlusconi to clear up the facts after a corruption probe in southern Italy brought forward a female escort who said she spent the night with the premier and had recordings to prove it.

Patrizia D'Addario told an Italian newspaper that a local businessman now being probed by magistrates paid her £850 to attend a dinner at Mr Berlusconi's Rome residence along with other young women and that she was invited back a few weeks later to spend the night with the premier.

The allegations come after Mr Berlusconi was forced to deny having sex with an 18-year-old aspiring model amid accusations from his divorce-seeking wife that he "frequents minors".

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