Print

Mail

wiki links

Rock star Bono feels exploited by Berlusconi

Irish rock star Bono complained in a front-page commentary published on Sunday that he felt exploited by election propaganda by Italian Prime Minister Silvio Ber-lusconi's campaign, which says the singer is "grateful" to the leader for Italian aid for poor countries.

"Mr. Berlusconi, as much I can feel flattered by appearing in your brochure, I also feel a bit ex-ploited," Bono, lead singer for the U2 group wrote in a commentary on the front page of the Milan daily Corriere della Sera.

Bono's photo appears midway through the 160-page glossy publication prepared by Berlusconi's Forza Italia party and being delivered to millions of Italian voters before elections this weekend.

The publication recounts how Bono and the media mogul prime minister discussed aid for the needy, and says in a caption, next to a photo of the star speaking on a phone, that Bono "is grateful to the prime minister for action promoted by the Italian government on behalf of poor countries."

Bono wrote that he recalled that in the telephone conversation, Berlusconi committed himself to supporting and implementing G-8 decision to cancel the debt of poor countries so that the money could be spent on health care and education of the needy.

"Tragically, in these last few years under this government, Italy has become the last in the list among the 22 richest nations of the world in terms of per capita spending on behalf of the Third World," Bono wrote.

This story has been viewed 1209 times.