yesterday, m blusconi denied ever ying for sex and denied reports that could resign.e have this repo from rome. >> he is showing the anish primeinister around sardinia in his usually playfully combate mood. heays that some of the journalists e good and some are bad. it is all said with a smile. the italian lead has been forc to defend himself against re lurid allegations. the latest is leaked from an ongoing corruption inquiry. it suggests that women at parties hosted b him were paid. prosecutors s the prime minister willot face criminal harges because he d not know that a number of t women were prostitutes. that is someing heas been claiming all along. opinion polls hint that his support ebbing away, iluding that from catlics. around half ofitalians still have faith in him. many say tt even a private fe must have lims, especially for a head of governnt. he isuing some ofhe newspapers andlaying do the rift with thvatican. where does this lea him and italy? ponents say that the reputations of th are in tatter because of the stories. yet his public supportontinues to ho