Berlusconi expelled from Parliament

The Italian Senate has expelled former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi from parliament with immediate effect over his conviction for tax fraud.

Berlusconi, who has dominated politics for 20 years, could now face arrest over other criminal cases as he has lost his immunity from prosecution.

He told supporters in Rome it was a "day of mourning" for democracy.

Ahead of the vote, he vowed to remain in politics to lead his Forza Italia in a "fight for the good of Italy".

Berlusconi told supporters gathered outside his Rome residence that "no political leader has suffered a persecution such as I have lived through".

He said: "It is a bitter day, a day of mourning."

Berlusconi, 77, said his struggle would continue outside parliament.

He said: "We must stay on the field, we must not despair if the leader of the centre-right is not a senator any more. There are leaders of other parties who are not parliamentarians."

The debate in the Senate had been heated, with two rival senators nearly coming to blows.

Manuela Ripetti of Berlusconi's Forza Italia party shouted: "Your only aim is to eliminate Silvio Berlusconi!"

After the vote, Beppe Grillo, the leader of the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, tweeted: "Berlusconi has been expelled by the Senate. One is out. Now we must evict all the others from the House."

Berlusconi insisted that he will be cleared on the criminal charge that led to the Senate vote which ejected him from parliament.

"I am absolutely sure that the end of these actions will be the reversal of the judgment, with my full acquittal," Berlusconi said during a rally with supporters shortly before the Senate vote.

Berlusconi's words pose a threat to democracy, including his insults against Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and attacks on the government, a leading centre-left official said.

Luigi Zanda, Senate whip for the Democratic Party (PD), spoke just before the Senate voted to eject the centre-right leader Berlusconi following his tax fraud conviction in August.

Berlusconi has denounced Italian government officials including Napolitano at a series of provocative rallies, including a major demonstration just before Wednesday's Senate vote on his ejection.

Such behaviour is dangerous and undemocratic, said Zanda.

"Provoking the crowd with strong tones is very dangerous for democracy, and the gratuitous insults against President Napolitano is an ugly event," said Zanda.