ROME, Jan 23: Barack Obama is good looking, Silvio Berlusconi’s wife was quoted on Friday as saying, three months after the outspoken Italian premier sparked controversy by describing the US president as ‘tanned’.

“He is a handsome man, he is young and healthy with a splendid family,” Veronica Lario told La Stampa newspaper.

“He is perfect for giving Americans their confidence back,” she gushed.

Berlusconi had provoked criticism for describing Obama as “young, handsome, and tanned”, during a visit to Moscow. Many in Italy and the United States saw the comment as racist or in bad taste.

Italy’s ANSA news agency said Berlusconi later defended the remark as “a great compliment”. Lario also said her 72-year-old husband would be at the helm for a decade.

“Today there is no opposition in Italy. A strong opposition forces the majority to improve itself to face a stronger political challenge. My husband will rule for another 10 years,” she said.

Berlusconi was prime minister in 1994 and then held power between 2001 and 2006. He returned to office in May last year.

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini meanwhile said he would meet with the new US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton “in two or three weeks”.—AFP