Italian MPs 'caught in drugs sting'

A popular Italian satirical television show has exposed what appears to be widespread drug use among the country's parliamentarians.

In secret tests for a number of illegal substances the programme said 16 of 50 lower house deputies tested positive for cocaine and cannabis.

Almost a third appeared to have taken the drugs in the past 36 hours.

The show, Le Lene, (the Hyenas) is well-known for spoofs and pranks that embarrass public figures. The programme sent a reporter to interview lower house deputies allegedly for a programme about the 2007 draft budget currently going through parliament.

But unbeknown to each of them, the make-up artist employed by the show was dabbing their brow with swabs, and their perspiration was later tested for cannabis and cocaine.

Twelve of the 50 politicians from Italy's lower house tested positive for cannabis and four for cocaine.