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Italy awaits leadership decision Italy awaits leadership decision
(about 3 hours later)
Italian President Giorgio Napolitano is to announce how he plans to resolve the country's political crisis, following talks on Friday 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 has been summoned to see the president at 1000 GMT amid mounting speculation he will be asked to remain in office.
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.
They also expressed their hostility to plans to expand a US airbase in Italy.
But Mr Prodi hopes to remain prime minister after parties in his governing coalition agreed a 12-point deal backing him on Thursday.
Nonetheless, any coalition he might form with the support of Communists and both moderate and radical left-wingers would remain relatively shaky, correspondents say.
'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.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 commentsHAVE 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.
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. Instead of asking Mr Prodi to stay on, Mr Napolitano could choose a new government leader from the outgoing coalition or appoint an administration of technocrats.
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.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.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.
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.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.
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.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.
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.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.
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.