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Italy waits as Prodi fate delayed Italy awaits leadership decision
(about 10 hours later)
Italy's President Giorgio Napolitano will announce who he has chosen to lead a new government on Saturday after talks with key politicians. Italian President Giorgio Napolitano is to announce how he plans to resolve the country's political crisis, following talks on Friday with key politicians.
Prime Minister Romano Prodi is hoping to stay in office after centre-left coalition partners agreed to back him.Prime Minister Romano Prodi is hoping to stay in office after centre-left coalition partners agreed to back him.
Mr Prodi sparked a political crisis when he resigned on Wednesday, after losing a Senate vote on foreign policy.Mr Prodi sparked a political crisis when he resigned on Wednesday, after losing a Senate vote on foreign policy.
Some coalition partners had opposed troop deployments in Afghanistan and plans to expand a US airbase in Italy.Some coalition partners had opposed troop deployments in Afghanistan and plans to expand a US airbase in Italy.
'Sleep on it''Sleep on it'
Mr Napolitano, 81, had been expected to announce the new leader on Friday, after wrapping up two days of talks with a range of key ministers.Mr Napolitano, 81, had been expected to announce the new leader on Friday, after wrapping up two days of talks with a range of key ministers.
But he said he needed some time to consider.
HAVE YOUR SAY The first thing is to stop the political relationships with the extreme parties Giuseppe Gambino, Palermo Send us your comments
"This evening I will try to organise the different proposals and my thoughts, and tomorrow morning I will communicate the decision," he said."This evening I will try to organise the different proposals and my thoughts, and tomorrow morning I will communicate the decision," he said.
The deal between Mr Prodi and other party leaders came late on Thursday. Correspondents say the president could ask Mr Prodi to try to form a new government, although any coalition he might form with the support of Communists and both moderate and radical left-wingers would remain relatively shaky.
Mr Napolitano could instead choose a new government leader from the outgoing coalition or appoint an administration of technocrats.
He could also call fresh elections, although correspondents say this is the least likely option.
Mr Prodi secured the renewed backing of leaders of his coalition partners in a late-night deal on Thursday.
"We have all agreed to the programme so that he can continue to govern," his spokesman, Silvio Sircana, said."We have all agreed to the programme so that he can continue to govern," his spokesman, Silvio Sircana, said.
name="text"> class="bodl" href="#senate">Balance of power in Italian Senate after 2006 elections His government had been forced onto the defensive over the continued deployment of 2,000 Italian troops in Afghanistan, with strong opposition from some of his more left-wing coalition partners.
The 12-point programme gives the prime minister the final say in any future disputes. It also reportedly includes support for Italy's military presence in Afghanistan. Plans for the expansion of a big US military base in Vicenza, northern Italy, had also sparked protests both within his government and on the street.
Mr Prodi's government had been forced onto the defensive over the continued deployment of 2,000 Italian troops in Afghanistan, with strong opposition from some of his more left-wing coalition partners. His government was brought down by two communist senators who rebelled against their own parties and joined the opposition in a key vote on Wednesday.
Plans for the expansion of a big US military base in Vicenza, northern Italy, had also sparked protests both within his government and on the street, with large demonstrations in Vicenza at the weekend.
HAVE YOUR SAY The first thing is to stop the political relationships with the extreme parties Giuseppe Gambino, Palermo Send us your comments
During Friday's talks, Mr Napolitano was expected to seek firm guarantees that the new government could rely on a firm majority in parliament.
But the concern, says the BBC's Christian Fraser in Rome, will be that the same risks are there.
With only a one-seat majority in the Senate Mr Prodi is still vulnerable.
In some areas the policy divisions are so deep that it is hard to see why in the medium term a new Prodi government would be any more stable than the first, our correspondent adds.
Mr Prodi's government was brought down by two communist senators who rebelled against their own parties and joined the opposition in the key vote on Wednesday.
The motion had asked the Senate to approve the government's foreign policy.The motion had asked the Senate to approve the government's foreign policy.
Although it was not a formal confidence vote, Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema had urged the government to resign if it could not win the Senate's backing.Although it was not a formal confidence vote, Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema had urged the government to resign if it could not win the Senate's backing.
BALANCE OF POWER IN ITALIAN SENATE AFTER 2006 ELECTIONS Further detail of Centre-left seats (others) Italy of Values - 4 seatsPopular-UDEUR - 3 seatsThe Union - South Tyrolean People's Party - 3 seatsSouth Tyrolean People's Party - 2 seatsConsumers' List - 1 seatOlive Tree - 1 seatAutonomy Liberty Democracy - 1 seatThe Union (abroad) - 4 seats
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