Italy's media regulator yesterday stressed its readiness to penalise broadcasters for unfair election campaign coverage as controversy raged over whether Silvio Berlusconi, prime minister, was hogging television airtime ahead of a national election on April 9.

The Communications Authority, which regulates Italian commercial television, said all political parties should have fair and equal treatment in the media during the campaign, which is shaping up as one of the most vicious in Italy since 1945.