G8 summit chaos claims

With Italy playing host to this week's G8 summit, the country's prime minister could be forgiven for looking a little battered.

For some weeks, Silvio Berlusconi has been weathering growing scandals over alleged liaisons with underage girls and entertaining escort girls at his Rome residence.

Mr Berlusconi has dismissed the scandals that have dented his image abroad and said they would not undermine this week's summit of world power leaders in Italy.

Poor planning claims

Now the Guardian newspaper in Britain has carried claims from unnamed officials saying the organisation of the summit in the town of L'Aquila, which was hit by an earthquake in April, has been so disastrous that Italy should be expelled from the G8 altogether.

Roger Hearing asked the BBC's correspondent in Rome, David Willey, what had gone wrong.

Achievements doubtful

So what hope is there for a successful summit? And how should we measure its success? Economist Roger Bootle is doubtful much will be settled at the meeting.

First broadcast on 8 July 2009