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Berlusconi ministerial resignations spark Italy crisis 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.
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 his party and Prime Minister Enrico Letta's centre-left grouping.
Mr Berlusconi had already threatened to withdraw his ministers if he is expelled from the Senate for tax fraud.
The crisis could lead to fresh elections amid acute economic problems.
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.
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? But the prime minister responded angrily to the resignations, accusing the PDL leader of telling Italians a "huge lie" in using the sales tax as an alibi for his own personal issues.
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. Mr Berlusconi's legal problems are seen as a cause of much of the tension inside the coalition.
A committee of the senate decides next week if he should be expelled after a court recently upheld his conviction for tax fraud.
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.