In what seems to be becoming almost a regular occurence, Silvio Berlusconi has thrown out the protocol rule book during a greeting ceremony at NATO’s summit.

Engrossed on his mobile phone, the Italian Prime Minister snubbed his host, Chancellor Angela Merkel, on arrival of the meeting’s second day. A bemused looking Merkel was left hanging, shrugging her shoulders at one point, before eventually giving up to head across the River Rhine with other NATO heads. Berlusconi later apologised claiming he was doing important NATO business in trying to convince Turkey to accept Europe’s choice, Danish prime minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, as the military bloc’s new chief. Only last Wednesday, Berlusconi appeared to annoy the queen at the G20 for being too noisy while leader’s posed for a traditional family photo.More about: Angela Merkel, Silvio Berlusconi

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