Berlusconi and Putin sharing secret deal profits

Berlusconi and Putin sharing secret deal profits
WikiLeaks Cables puts US diplomats startling suspicions that Silvio Berlusconi may be "profiting personally and handsomely" from secret deals with the Russian prime minister, Vladimir Putin, according to cables released by WikiLeaks.Exasperated by Berlusconi's pro-Russian behaviour, American embassy staff detail allegations circulating in Rome that the Italian leader has been promised a cut of huge energy contracts.Two leaders to be personally close, hence allegations emerge of a financial link.

US ambassador in Rome, Ronald Spogli, first reported the claims in a series of dispatches in 2008-09. He said the prime minister had taken "single-handed" control of Italy's dealings with Moscow, with the over-riding aim of pleasing the Russian leader.
Berlusconi acted as a "mouthpiece" for Putin, he reported, supporting him in public when Russia was being criticised.Media Reports

Julian Assange Swede Most wanted

Swedish police said Thursday no mistakes were made when filing an international arrest warrant for Julian Assange, refuting a British report that a Swedish blunder could have delayed the WikiLeaks frontman's arrest.

"For us there is no problem, but we are investigating," Tommy Kangasvieri of the Swedish National Criminal Police told AFP."At the moment, we are talking with the UK to know if there is a problem and what it is," he added.

The Times newspaper reported Thursday that British police knew where the Internet whistleblower was -- believed to be a location in southeast England -- but could not act on the information as the European arrest warrant was incorrectly filled out.

Sweden issued an arrest warrant for the 39-year-old Australian on November 18, citing "probable cause of suspected rape, sexual molestation and unlawful coercion" related to contacts with two women in Sweden in August.On Tuesday, Assange's lawyer appealed to Sweden's Supreme Court to overturn the ruling that lead to the arrest warrant being launched.Whistleblowing website WikiLeaks slowly started publishing some 250,000 US embassy cables on Sunday, which has infuriated Washington and embarrassed many governments worldwide.