Silvio Berlusconi on Thursday urged his supporters to continue backing Italy's coalition government, after a senior ally threatened to pull out if the former premier was ultimately convicted of tax offences and banned from politics. A top appeals court is due to hold a July 30 hearing on whether to uphold a four-year jail term - with a three-year-remit - and a five-year ban on public office for Berlusconi. No date has been set for the verdict. "The government must continue for the good of Italy," Berlusconi was quoted as saying by the ANSA news agency during a closed-door meeting with lawmakers from his conservative People of Freedom (PDL) party. "Under the current situation, we should support this government. If you have negative statements to make, keep them to yourselves," he reportedly added. The PDL is a key partner in the grand coalition government of Prime Minister Enrico Letta, along with the centre-left Democratic Party and smaller centrist groups. -- SPA 21:13 LOCAL TIME 18:13 GMT تغريد
