Thousands of women have taken to Italy's streets calling on Silvio Berlusconi to resign after prosecutors requested he be tried for allegedly using an underage prostitute.

They have accused the 74-year-old of paying for sex with Moroccan belly dancer Karima El Mahroug - stage name Ruby Rubacuori - when she was just 17.

The protesters say leaked evidence from the case shows the Italian premier has little respect for female dignity.

It apparently shows he frequently held parties at his home with starlets and other women hoping to use their looks to gain positions in politics or within his Mediaset TV empire.

Protests were scheduled to take place in 200 cities and towns across Italy as well as London and New York.

The largest were in Rome and Milan, where counter-demonstrations by activists from Mr Berlusconi's People of Freedom party area were also held.

Organisers called that protest "If Not Now, When?", which is also the title of a famous novel by the Italian writer Primo Levi about a group of Jewish partisans behind German lines during World War II.

Iaia Caputo, one of the leaders of the anti-Berlusconi demonstations, said: "The Ruby case has revealed a system of political selection based on an exchange of sex and power.

"If we accept this as normal, we risk prejudicing the free choice of women.

"We want to send a message to the country and to the parties that do not see themselves a part of what has happened over the last few weeks - it's possible to change route."

Men were also encouraged to attend the rallies, which were supported by prostitutes and nuns disgusted by Mr Berlusconi's antics.

For almost a month now the billionaire media tycoon has been in the spotlight over claims of nurses and policewomen stripping at his infamous ''bunga bunga'' parties.

The phrase is said to refer to a crude after dinner sex game but Mr Berlusconi has insisted the parties at his mansion at Arcore near Milan were nothing more than convivial social events.

Opposition MP Sandro Gozi told Sky News: "Unless we have an election then we don't have any means of making him quit.

"It is clear that in any other country in the world, in any other democratic country in the world, the Prime Minister which is accused of such shameful and serious allegations he would have already resigned.

"But Italy is not a normal country yet unfortunately."

The scandal seems to have had little effect on Mr Berlusconi's popularity. Recent polls show if a general election were held right now he would win.

In a reference to his numerous battles with the judiciary, his supporters at the counter-demonstration in Milan held placards reading: "Hundred trials, no convictions equals persecution" and "Palace of INjustice".

They claim his privacy has been violated by the investigation and are urging him to "resist, resist, resist", as one supporter who was interviewed on Italian TV put it.

They also urged women to show their support by going to pro-Berlusconi rallies or not attending the demonstrations against him. Popular Italian pop star Anna Tatangelo said she would not be taking part.

She said: "I don't think the protest will help the climate in Italy. It's necessary to calm things down and restore order in the political situation and the basic things that concern our country. Don't go and protest, think about how we can really get back up."

A preliminary hearings judge is expected to announce on Monday or Tuesday whether she has granted the prosecution request to send the case to trial. If approved it could start as early as April.

Meanwhile, a state of emergency has been declared by the Italian government after 4,000 illegal immigrants fleeing from Tunisia arrived in just four days.

They sailed across the Mediterranean following the North African country's revolution last month.

Source - Yahoo.