STEVE INSKEEP, Host: NPR's Sylvia Poggioli reports from Rome.</s>SYLVIA POGGIOLI: The nine-to-six ruling rejected the Berlusconi legal team's claim that the prime minister is above the law, at least while in office. A visibly furious Berlusconi lashed out at those he claims have been waging a witch hunt against him</s>SILVIO BERLUSCONI: (Italian spoken)</s>SYLVIA POGGIOLI: The statement enraged the opposition MP Rosy Bindi, a woman unlike the young women Berlusconi is often seen with.</s>SILVIO BERLUSCONI: (Italian spoken)</s>SYLVIA POGGIOLI: The center-left opposition is bracing for a period of political turmoil. But Dario Franceschini, leader of the Democratic Party, hailed the ruling as a sign that Italian democracy can resist what he called the prime minister's abuse of power.</s>DARIO FRANCESCHINI: (Through translator) The constitutional court has re-established the principle of equality of all citizens before the law. We are all equal, even the powerful ones.</s>SYLVIA POGGIOLI: Sylvia Poggioli, NPR News, Rome.
Italy's highest court has removed the legal immunity enjoyed by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. The ruling by the constitutional court means a number of legal cases that accuse Berlusconi of fraud, bribery and corruption can now resume. Berlusconi says he has no intention of stepping down, and his supporters say they plan a massive public show of support.