Italy prepares to bid farewell to Berlusconi

(ANSA) - ROME, JUN 13 - Italy is preparing to bid its final farewell to four-times ex premier, centre-right leader and media billionaire Silvio Berlusconi after he died at the age of 86 on Monday.
    The government has proclaimed a day of national mourning to coincide with the Forza Italia leader's State funeral at Milan Cathedral on Wednesday.
    Italian and European flags are flying at half-mast on public buildings in Italy and on diplomatic and consular buildings abroad.
    His body will not lie in state in his Mediaset television studios in Cologno Monzese before the funeral as originally announced due to public order concerns.
    Berlusconi's body is at his Villa San Martino home at Arcore, near Milan, with only relatives and friends being granted access to pay their respects The State funeral will be celebrated by the Archbishop of Milan, Monsignor Mario Delpini, on Wednesday at 3 pm.
    Big screens are being set up in the square outside the cathedral to enable to public to follow the funeral. (ANSA).