MILAN — A Milan judge on Tuesday ordered Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi stand trial April 6 on charges of using an under age prostitute and abuse of office. The media mogul abruptly cancelled a news conference in Sicily and returned to Rome after the decision was announced.

 Berlusconi will be tried by a panel of three women judges. If convicted he faces a sentence of four to 12 years in prison for using his position to obtain the release of a 17-year-old Moroccan prostitute from police custody and six months to three years in prison for the prostitution charge. In addition he would almost certainly be banned from holding public office, meaning he would be forced to resign immediately.

 Judge Cristina Di Censo ordered the immediate fast track trial on the ground that there were “evident proofs” that he was guilty of the charges involving the underage girl known as Ruby.