国际英语新闻:Berlusconi celebrates his free of sex case

ROME, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Italy's former premier Silvio Berlusconi said Wednesday that with his acquittal of two legal charges by the supreme court, "all fractures are healed, even in the (Forza Italia) party".

According to local media, Berlusconi made the remarks when meeting party loyalists to celebrate Tuesday's binding acquittal on charges of buying sex from an under-age prostitute and abusing his office to cover it up. He completed a community-service sentence 10 days earlier from a definitive tax fraud conviction.

Berlusconi said the truth had prevailed after the supreme Court of Cassation's ruling which paved the way for a "spring campaign" to revive his flagging political fortunes.

"The sentence has healed all fractures, in the party too ... united we win," he said.

"Finally the truth," the three-time premier and leader of the center-right Forza Italia (FI) party said.

"Today is a wonderful day for politics, for justice, for the rule of law. I was certain that my version would be recognized as right. But the bitterness remains over an affair that has caused countless damage not just to me, but to all the Italian people," he said.

"Now this sad page has been shelved. I'm back in the field to build a better, more just and free Italy with Forza Italia and the center right," he added.