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Italy awaits leadership decision Italian PM asked to resume duties
(about 1 hour 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 Prime Minister Romano Prodi has been asked by the president to remain in office after resigning last week over a vote on foreign policy.
Prime Minister Romano Prodi was summoned to see the president at 1000 GMT amid mounting speculation he will be asked to remain in office. President Giorgio Napolitano said Mr Prodi should go before parliament and seek a vote of confidence.
Mr Prodi sparked a political crisis when he resigned on Wednesday after losing a Senate vote on foreign policy. Mr Prodi resigned on Wednesday after losing a crucial Senate vote on the deployment of troops in Afghanistan.
Some coalition partners had opposed troop deployments in Afghanistan. But his left-wing coalition partners subsequently signed up to a 12-point deal endorsing him in his role.
They also expressed their hostility to plans to expand a US airbase in Italy. Despite the deal, any coalition which operates with the support of Communists and both moderate and radical left-wingers will remain relatively shaky, correspondents say.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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. The 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.
But 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.