Watch video footage of Mr Berlusconi's prank

Silvio Berlusconi, the flamboyant Italian Prime Minister, played a practical joke on the German Chancellor today by jumping out at her from behind a lamppost when they met for an Italo-German summit in Trieste.

Slipping away from the welcoming committee, the Italian leader hid behind the lamppost and emerged with a cry of "Cucu!" when Angela Merkel stepped out of her official car to enter the regional council headquarters where they were to meet. Reports said the German leader, who appeared amused, opened her arms and replied "Silvio!".

Mr Berlusconi, noted for his unpredictable behaviour and often ill-judged jokes, raised eyebrows recently by describing Barack Obama, the US President-elect, as "suntanned", during a visit to Moscow. Carla Bruni Sarkozy, the Italian-born wife of President Sarkozy of France, said that the remark and the furore it caused had made her "happy to be no longer an Italian citizen".

The Italian Prime Minister was also taken to task by opposition leaders, who said that he had embarrassed Italy in the eyes of the world. He replied that those who criticised him for the remark were "imbeciles" with no sense of humour.

Last weekend the Italian leader, 72 — who has been fitted with a heart pacemaker and has occasionally fainted at the podium while making speeches — denied reports that he had been taken ill on the plane home after the G20 summit in Washington. "I didn't have any illness. I feel extremely well," Mr Berlusconi said.

He said that he had "the strength of a 20 year old". The Italian press has reported that Mr Berlusconi sometimes visits Milan night spots until the early hours of the morning, despite keeping up a punishing work schedule.

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