Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is vowing to fight the corruption charges facing him, even after Italy's Constitutional Court overturned a law shielding him from prosecution while in office.

Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi after visiting an exhibition in Rome, 07 Oct 2009A defiant Mr. Berlusconi Thursday said he will go on television and dispute the charges in court to show Italians the "stuff (he is) made of".

The Italian leader faces two corruption trials. In one case, he is accused of paying a British lawyer to give false testimony during trials in the 1990s.

Mr. Berlusconi called the trials "laughable."  

He also has accused the Italian media and President Giorgio Napolitano of siding with the left against him.
 
In addition to his corruption battles, the 73-year-old prime minister also has been embroiled in a series of sex scandals. He has sued newspapers in Italy, Spain and France for their coverage of his private life. 

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.