Silvio berlusconi biography of barack obama tanned

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's joke about the newly-elected Barack Obama being "young, handsome and sun-tanned" hangs over him on his first visit to Washington since the election.

The gag was widely regarded as offensive.

Hundreds of Italians wrote to the New York Times to apologise.

Before boarding his flight on Sunday, Mr Berlusconi made a mischievous reference to the scandal, saying that he was heading for Washington "handsome and tanned" himself.

His own response to the wave of criticism that greeted his comment in November was incomprehension: "How can you take such a great compliment negatively?"

So, is there any unease in Italy that the prime minister will offend his host in Washington?

Polarised society