Court gives Berlusconi slight reprieve

A top court in Rome has rejected as unconstitutional an automatic shield from trial for Premier Silvio Berlusconi but maintained some room for immunity for the Italian leader.

The Constitutional Court's ruling Thursday stops short of completely rejecting the law shielding Berlusconi, which would have immediately reopened two trials, on corruption and tax fraud charges.

But it also gives judges leeway in deciding whether the premier should be exempt from trial.

It is the latest in Berlusconi's saga as he fights for his political life.

In December, hesurvived the no-confidence motion inItaly's lower house by just three votes. On the same day, he alsosecured a more comfortable victory in a confidence vote at the senate.

Weakened by sex scandals and a bitter breakup with his one-time closest ally, Berlusconi seemed destined to be sent packing last year.