Berlusconi who has denied any sexual relationship with Letizia, said his wife had been duped by the opposition leftist media into believing the allegations of infidelity.

Since then Berlusconi has been embroiled in another scandal after a self-confessed prostitute Patrizia D'Addario alleged she had been paid to attend parties at the premier's residence in Rome and that she had spent a night with him.

Audio tapes purportedly recording conversations between Berlusconi and D'Addario at the Palazzo Grazioli residence, have been posted on newspaper internet sites.

They have also been examined by magistrates conducting an abetting of prostitution probe involving a businessman form the southern city of Bari who allegedly paid women to attend Berlusconi's parties.

Berlusconi has said he is 'no saint', but has denied ever paying for sex.

Latella in the article written for the Corriere della Sera containing excerpts from her book, claimed that members of Berlusconi's intimate circle advised the couple to separate and for Lario to 'return to her husband's side' to support him while he sought help at a clinic to cure sex addiction.

'This scenario hasn't been completely ruled out, and much will depend on how much the media (especially overseas) continue to be fascinated by Berlusconi's private life,' Latella wrote.