Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has no plans to seek a reconciliation with his wife and has demanded an apology from the former actress for comments she made.

His wife Veronica said over the weekend she planned to file for divorce, days after publicly criticizing Berlusconi's selection of pretty young women to run in European elections.

La Stampa newspaper quoted the premier today as saying he had ordered his lawyers to take care of the situation and that Veronica's comments might even warrant a lawsuit.

"To tell the truth, there may even be conditions to sue for defamation, but it's best to leave that alone," he said.

Lamenting to the Corriere della Sera daily that his wife had "fallen into a media trap," Berlusconi said salvaging his marriage of 19 years appeared unlikely now.

"I don't think so, I don't know if I want it this time. Veronica should publicly apologize to me," Berlusconi said.