ROME -- The Court of Cassation confirmed Thursday Silvio Berlusconi's tax fraud conviction and a 4 year prison term but ordered a new trial to decide how long he will be banned from public office.

 The supreme court said a separate trial should be held in Milan to determine the length of the ban on his holding public office which could be between three and one year under Italian legislation passed in 2000. Berlusconi's lawyers called the sentence "unjust and unjustifiable."

 Nevertheless political commentators said the outcome was a partial victory for the media magnate as the Court did not uphold the five year ban on holding public office imposed by two lower courts for the tax case.

 The four year term is commuted to serving just one year under the provisions of an amnesty. At age 76 Berlusconi is not expected to have to serve his term behind bars but may face a period of house arrest in one of his luxurious villas or could opt to do community service. In the past he has indicated he would not follow the example of his political mentor, Socialist Bettino Craxi, who fled into exile in Tunisia rather than face imprisonment and died in the north African country.

 Some ministers from Berlusconi's PDL party are expected to consider resigning following the conviction, heralding a turbulent period for the Government of Prime Minister Enrico Letta.

 jp