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Art critics have blasted Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi after he had a 254-year-old masterpiece re-touched - to cover a woman's exposed breast.

Berlusconi, 71, was worried TV cameras would focus on it in Giovanni Battista Tiepolo's Time Unveiling Truth, seen on display behind him during media briefings - so he had a veil put over it.

The PM said he also had to consider the feelings of female cabinet members - including former topless model Mara Carfagna.

But art critic Vittorio Sgarbi fumed: "Madness. What are they going to do to the naked statues throughout Italy with busts that would take Pamela Anderson's breath away? You can't touch up a Tieplo."

The PM's spokesman said: "The decision was taken for fear of offending people."