An Italian appeals court has overturned former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's conviction on charges of abuse of office and paying for sex with a minor.
The Milan court unexpectedly threw out the guilty verdict handed down by a lower tribunal last year, which had sentenced Mr Berlusconi to seven years in jail.
Mr Berlusconi was accused of paying for sex with former nightclub dancer Karima El Mahroug, better known under her stage name "Ruby the Heart stealer", when she was under 18.
He was also accused of abusing his authority to get her released from police custody over unrelated theft accusations.