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| Berlusconi ministerial resignations spark Italy crisis | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| All five ministers in the party of Italy's former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi are resigning from the shaky coalition government, a spokesman says. | All five ministers in the party of Italy's former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi are resigning from the shaky coalition government, a spokesman says. |
| The development follows weeks of worsening relations between Mr Berlusconi's party and Prime Minister Enrico Letta's centre-left grouping. | The development follows weeks of worsening relations between Mr Berlusconi's party and Prime Minister Enrico Letta's centre-left grouping. |
| Mr Letta flew back from New York on Friday in an attempt to prevent the government from collapsing. | Mr Letta flew back from New York on Friday in an attempt to prevent the government from collapsing. |
| Saturday's resignations suggest those efforts have failed. | Saturday's resignations suggest those efforts have failed. |
| The prime minister said late on Friday that he would quit unless his government won a confidence vote due next week in parliament. | The prime minister said late on Friday that he would quit unless his government won a confidence vote due next week in parliament. |
| In a statement, Mr Berlusconi described that ultimatum as "unacceptable". | In a statement, Mr Berlusconi described that ultimatum as "unacceptable". |
| Mr Berlusconi's centre-right People of Freedom (PDL) party objects to a planned increase in sales tax. | Mr Berlusconi's centre-right People of Freedom (PDL) party objects to a planned increase in sales tax. |
| Fresh elections? | Fresh elections? |
| However the former prime minister and billionaire is himself at the centre of much of the tension: his conviction for tax evasion means he should be expelled from the Senate. | However the former prime minister and billionaire is himself at the centre of much of the tension: his conviction for tax evasion means he should be expelled from the Senate. |
| The BBC's correspondent in Rome, Alan Johnston, says the government is being pulled apart as Mr Berlusconi fights the moves to expel him. | The BBC's correspondent in Rome, Alan Johnston, says the government is being pulled apart as Mr Berlusconi fights the moves to expel him. |
| Fresh elections are a real possibility, our correspondent says, but there may also be an attempt to stitch together a new governing coalition drawn from factions in the current parliament. | Fresh elections are a real possibility, our correspondent says, but there may also be an attempt to stitch together a new governing coalition drawn from factions in the current parliament. |