Clooney called by Berlos defence as witness

Both sides presented their lists of witnesses at the Milan tribunal where the trial opens next week. A judge must now decide which witnesses to admit.

The 74-year-old Berlusconi is accused of having paid for sex with the Moroccan,who is known as Ruby and was 17 at the time,and then using his influence to try to cover it up. The premier denies wrongdoing.

Clooney was listed because Ruby once said she had seen the Hollywood star and his Italian girlfriend Elisabetta Canalis at one of Berlusconis parties,according to the law firm representing Berlusconi. We want to see if they confirm this fact or not, said attorney Piersilvio Cipollotti.

Italian newspapers reported months ago that Ruby had said Clooney,who has a mansion on Lake Como north of Milan,and Canalis were guests at one of Berlusconis parties. According to a February 22 report in leading Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera,prosecutors talked with Canalis last month.

Berlusconis defence also listed Foreign Minister Franco Frattini and other Cabinet officials as witnesses,Cipollotti said. Clooney said he was surprised to be named a witness in the prostitution trial,People magazine reported. It seems odd since Ive only met Berlusconi once and that was in an attempt to get aid into Darfur, Clooney told the magazine.