Italian prosecutors were on Thursday night considering whether to press a judge to schedule a trial for Silvio Berlusconi, prime minister, and David Mills, a British corporate lawyer who worked for him, on charges of corruption.

Prosecutors in Milan received a request from Mr Mills?s lawyers this week for more time to study the mass of documents connected with the case. But the prosecutors are anxious not to delay the technical legal process too long because, even if the two men stand trial, a statute of limitations annulling the case could kick in next year.