Brown, Sarkozy and the others? They're all just novices, declares gaffe-prone Berlusconi

Other national leaders may be reflecting that such comments are a little rich, given Mr Berlusconi's track record for embarrassing blunders and gaffes in recent years.

Speaking at a conference in Rome, the 71-year-old highlighted the departures of Tony Blair and Spanish counterpart José Maria Aznar, as well as Jacques Chirac and Vladimir Putin as presidents of France and Russia and of Gerhard Schroeder as German Chancellor.

A word in your ear, young man: Silvio Berlusconi with French President Nicolas Sarkozy this week

'Today there is a certain lack of leadership experience,' Mr Berlusconi said.

He underlined 'the absence of figures such as Putin, Blair, Aznar, Chirac and Schroeder at international summits', saying they had been replaced by 'leaders who have no not enough practical experience'.

Blowing his own trumpet, Mr Berlusconi added: 'I have wherever possible tried to give my contribution wherever possible. Within Europe I am the one who has been around the longest, even from an age point-of-view.'

Although he did not name Gordon Brown or Spain's current PM José Zapatero, he did take a pot shot France's new president Nicolas Sarkozy.

Mr Berlusconi said: 'It's true the French president has launched a club for Mediterranean facing countries but he hasn't had talks with the Libyans, like I have.'

His views drew no response from other European leaders - though one British diplomatic source said: 'Berlusconi's comments are rather surprising, but he has always been a bit of a showman.'

Former Italian prime minister Massimo D'Alema said: 'Berlusconi is obviously having some sort of omnipotent delirium.'

Italy's leading daily La Repubblica illustrated Mr Berlusconi's comments with a resumé of his gaffes over the last six years, which include comparing a German MEP to a Nazi concentration camp guard.

In another blunder he once said that he had used his 'playboy charms' on Finland's president, Tarja Halonen, in order to secure a European food summit in Italy.

Mr Berlusconi, a former cruise ship crooner, has also blundered but also in his personal life, especially towards his long-suffering wife Veronica.

He had to make a public apology to her last year after he was heard telling two attractive women at a TV awards show that if he 'wasn't already married he would happily marry them.'