Berlusconi breaks 'no photos' rule after posing with Medvedev

Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has been criticised after he broke a strict 'no photographs' rule as he posed with Russian President Dimitri Medvedev in front of The Last Supper.

Art experts across the world agree that flash photography can have serious effects on centuries old paintings and galleries and museums forbid their use to protect the works, a ccording to The Daily Mail.

However the rules appeared to have been broken for Berlusconi as he and Medvedev posed for several minutes in front of Leonardo Da Vinci's 15th Century mural.

President Medvedev is in Italy for a holiday and visited the Last Supper at the Santa Maria della Grazie museum while on a tour of Milan with Berlusconi.

Tourists who had booked a slot to view the work - which has a waiting list of three months - were held back to allow the party through to view the work which recreates Christ's Last Supper with his disciples.

Museum officials allowed three photographers in to take pictures of the two leaders using flash - despite clear signs banning the taking of photographs - but insisted that it was from a distance and not close-up.

A sign in various languages at the entrance clearly states that photography is not allowed - while wet umbrellas, mobile telephones, food, drink and smoking are also forbidden.