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Italy: Napolitano invites 'select group' on cabinet Italy: Napolitano invites 'select group' on cabinet
(35 minutes later)
Italian President Giorgio Napolitano has announced that he plans to invite a select group of people to propose a platform of policies that may end the impasse in forming a new government. The Italian president has said he will ask a select group of people to offer a policy platform to try to end the impasse in forming a new government.
Mr Napolitano said the names would be released later. Giorgio Napolitano said the names would be released later on Saturday.
His announcement ended speculation that he might resign after political parties failed to agree a coalition government after February's inconclusive election. His announcement ended speculation that he might resign - a day after political parties failed to agree a coalition government following February's inconclusive election.
Mr Napolitano said he would serve out his mandate that ends in May. Mr Napolitano said he would serve out his mandate that ends on 15 May.
Italy has been governed by a group of technocrats led by Mario Monti since late 2011 - when centre-right leader Silvio Berlusconi resigned in the middle of an acute economic crisis.Italy has been governed by a group of technocrats led by Mario Monti since late 2011 - when centre-right leader Silvio Berlusconi resigned in the middle of an acute economic crisis.
President Napolitano said the Monti's caretaker cabinet was still "operational" and "in charge".
'To the end'
The president finished consultations with Italy's main political leaders on Friday.The president finished consultations with Italy's main political leaders on Friday.
In the absence of agreement, Italian analysts had said Mr Napolitano was contemplating quitting to enable a successor to try to form a new cabinet or dissolve parliament and call new elections.In the absence of agreement, Italian analysts had said Mr Napolitano was contemplating quitting to enable a successor to try to form a new cabinet or dissolve parliament and call new elections.
But the president said he planned to stay on "to the end".But the president said he planned to stay on "to the end".
He was, instead, going to ask "two small groups of personalities" to formulate "precise programmatic proposals" that could be supported by political parties - and serve as a basis for a new cabinet. He was, instead, going to ask "two small groups of personalities" to formulate "precise programme proposals" that could be supported by political parties - and serve as a basis for a new cabinet.
There has been talk of the possibility of the president ultimately seeking to form a temporary, technocrat-style administration, says the BBC's Alan Johnston in Rome. It is not yet clear who these personalities might be, the BBC's Alan Johnston in Rome reports.
But for the moment nothing is clear, except that Italy's political paralysis continues, our correspondent says. There has been talk of the possibility of the president ultimately seeking to form a temporary, technocrat-style administration, our correspondent says.
He adds that for the moment nothing is clear, except that Italy's political paralysis continues.
The country's parliament is currently split in three main blocs - each without enough seats to govern alone.
Pier Luigi Bersani's centre-left coalition won the most votes in the February election, but failed to secure a majority in both houses of parliament.
The bloc has ruled out an alliance with Mr Berlusconi's centre-right alliance, which finished a close second.
The protest group Five Stars Movement led by former comedian Beppe Grillo garnered a quarter of the vote, but has refused to support either group.