Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi gives a speech on June 25, 2009 at the G8 summit in L'Aquila. He has called the allegations he paid for sex 'trash.' (Sandro Perozzi/Associated Press)

Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi joked Wednesday that he is "no saint," in his first comments on his sex scandal since a news weekly released what it said were conversations between him and a prostitute.

Berlusconi has been entangled in scandal for months over his alleged encounters with young women. But the controversy took on new life this week when the left-leaning L'Espresso released tapes of the purported conversations at the conservative leader's Rome residence.

"I'm no saint, by now you've figured that out," a smiling Berlusconi told an audience of business executives and politicians in Rome. "Let's hope that those working at Repubblica understand that, too," he added, taking a jab at the daily that has doggedly pursued the scandal story.

Both La Repubblica and L'Espresso are owned by the same publishing group. The 72-year-old leader also noted that "there are a lot of nice-looking girls around."

Berlusconi has denied he ever paid anyone for sex, and has called the allegations "trash" meant to smear him. Last month, a defiant Berlusconi said "that's who I am" and that is how Italians want him.

The scandal has done little to dent his popularity at home and has not threatened the stability of his cabinet — a sign of his remarkable resilience and Italians' indifference to the sexual foibles of the political class.