ROME -- Italian President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro appeared to back Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Wednesday in his refusal to resign over an investigation against him for alleged corruption, even as newspapers reported that the beleaguered prime minister could face a further probe by magistrates in Rome.


The statement, issued by Scalfaro's office after he met the heads of both houses of parliament, indicated that all three of Italy's top institutional figures were eager to avoid an immediate government crisis over the affair.


Calling on the Senate, Italy's upper house, to proceed with calm consideration of the country's vital 1995 austerity budget, it said only a parliamentary vote of no confidence could bring down the government.


The statement was issued after he met Senate Speaker Carlo Scognamiglio and Chamber of Deputies Speaker Irene Pivetti. "In the course of the talks there was total agreement on reaffirming the fundamental principle that in a parliamentary republic the fate of the government is in the hands of the free will of parliament," it said.


Its wording echoed a battling statement by Berlusconi on Tuesday night in which he swore to remain in office.


Denying any wrongdoing, Berlusconi told television viewers: "Only a clear and explicit vote of no confidence by parliament would force me to write my resignation letter."


Milan's elite pool of "Mani Pulite" (Clean Hands) anti-graft magistrates formally advised media tycoon Berlusconi on Tuesday that he was under investigation for alleged corruption, threatening his brief political career.


The contents of the notice, which is meant to remain secret and does not imply guilt, have not been confirmed.


But state television said investigators had 16 witnesses to back their suspicions that Berlusconi knew of bribes to tax officials alleged to have been paid by companies in Berlusconi's $7 billion a year media-to-retailing empire.


Two newspapers, La Stampa and Il Messaggero, reported that Rome magistrates were considering whether they too should launch a formal probe into Berlusconi's affairs. The unconfirmed reports said Berlusconi tried to pressure state broadcaster RAI to reach a deal to carve up television advertising with the three networks of his Fininvest group, in violation of laws on fair competition.


Berlusconi, braving the crisis by chairing the closing day of a UN conference in Naples on organized crime, repeated Wednesday that he had done no wrong, and again raised charges of a political conspiracy to bring him down.


"I'd describe my state as one of calm indignation," Berlusconi told reporters. "I have already sworn on what I hold most dear, namely the heads of my children, that I have never committed the things I am accused of."