Berlusconi expelled from Parliament

ROME -- The Italian Senate approved the expulsion of Silvio Berlusconi from parliament Wednesday following his conviction and sentence for tax fraud, officials said.

  "This is a bitter day of mourning for democracy," Berlusconi told supporters who gathered outside his Palazzo Grazioli residence where he held many of his notorious bunga bunga parties, some with under age prostitutes.

 Senate President Pietro Grasso announced Berlusconi had been stripped of his seat in the upper house after nine motions by supporters to save the media tycoon were rejected.

 Berlusconi harangued the throng of faithful in front of his residence by ranbting against the magistrature. "When the Left is not in office the magistrates do everything to make it return to power," he snorted. "We are moderates."