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| Crisis talks to begin in Italy | Crisis talks to begin in Italy |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Italian President Giorgio Napolitano is to hold crisis talks with political leaders following the resignation of Prime Minister Romano Prodi. | Italian President Giorgio Napolitano is to hold crisis talks with political leaders following the resignation of Prime Minister Romano Prodi. |
| Mr Prodi stepped down after being defeated in a vote of confidence in the upper house of parliament, the Senate. | Mr Prodi stepped down after being defeated in a vote of confidence in the upper house of parliament, the Senate. |
| The president is said to favour an interim government to push through much-needed electoral reforms. | The president is said to favour an interim government to push through much-needed electoral reforms. |
| But opposition leader Silvio Berlusconi is calling for snap elections, which would favour his centre-right party. | But opposition leader Silvio Berlusconi is calling for snap elections, which would favour his centre-right party. |
| Change needed | Change needed |
| Mr Napolitano will begin the talks with party leaders, whips and leaders of the lower and upper houses of parliament on Friday afternoon, the president's office said in a statement. | Mr Napolitano will begin the talks with party leaders, whips and leaders of the lower and upper houses of parliament on Friday afternoon, the president's office said in a statement. |
| The consultations will last until Tuesday, it said. | The consultations will last until Tuesday, it said. |
| We will say what we want to do in the first 100 days of our government Silvio Berlusconi href="/1/hi/world/europe/7208705.stm">Will opposition's glee last? class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/6387715.stm">Profile: Romano Prodi | |
| The BBC's Christian Fraser says there is widespread agreement among several senior senators - even among Mr Prodi's opponents - that the country needs new electoral laws. | The BBC's Christian Fraser says there is widespread agreement among several senior senators - even among Mr Prodi's opponents - that the country needs new electoral laws. |
| Under the current system rushed in by Mr Berlusconi during his time as prime minister, smaller parties with only a handful of seats hold the balance of power in parliament. | Under the current system rushed in by Mr Berlusconi during his time as prime minister, smaller parties with only a handful of seats hold the balance of power in parliament. |
| This is what caused the current crisis. The loss of the small, centrist Udeur party's three seats in the upper house left Mr Prodi without a majority and requiring the support of several unelected life senators. | This is what caused the current crisis. The loss of the small, centrist Udeur party's three seats in the upper house left Mr Prodi without a majority and requiring the support of several unelected life senators. |
| In the Senate vote, Mr Prodi's government fell four votes short of the 160 it needed to survive, with 161 senators voting against and one abstention. | In the Senate vote, Mr Prodi's government fell four votes short of the 160 it needed to survive, with 161 senators voting against and one abstention. |
| Poll strength | Poll strength |
| Opposition senators celebrated Mr Prodi's defeat with champagne | Opposition senators celebrated Mr Prodi's defeat with champagne |
| Mr Prodi, who led his centre-left coalition for 20 months, has been asked to continue as prime minister in a caretaker capacity until the president decides to call for elections or the formation of a new government. | Mr Prodi, who led his centre-left coalition for 20 months, has been asked to continue as prime minister in a caretaker capacity until the president decides to call for elections or the formation of a new government. |
| Our correspondent says Mr Berlusconi is unlikely to pass up the opportunity to press for snap elections given that his Forza Italia party is leading the polls. | Our correspondent says Mr Berlusconi is unlikely to pass up the opportunity to press for snap elections given that his Forza Italia party is leading the polls. |
| HAVE YOUR SAYProdi was the lesser of two evilsHarry, Glasgow Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYProdi was the lesser of two evilsHarry, Glasgow Send us your comments |
| Members of his coalition cracked open champagne to celebrate Mr Prodi's defeat and the flamboyant former prime minister announced a surprise party at his house in Rome. | Members of his coalition cracked open champagne to celebrate Mr Prodi's defeat and the flamboyant former prime minister announced a surprise party at his house in Rome. |
| "We will say what we want to do in the first 100 days of our government," said Mr Berlusconi. | "We will say what we want to do in the first 100 days of our government," said Mr Berlusconi. |