Silvio Berlusconi

[freemocy]

Bush's allies are becoming fewer and fewer now

[aswad]

Italy faces post-election limbo

Italy is facing weeks of political uncertainty, with Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi refusing to accept Romano Prodi's election victory.

He has insisted on waiting until some 43,000 contested ballot papers have been re-examined.

But his centre-left rival Romano Prodi says his victory will not be reversed and he is ready to form a coalition.

However, no administration can be sworn in for another month, until parliament has elected a new president.

The current head-of-state, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, is due to step down then and he has made it clear he wants his successor to preside over the change of government.

Mr Prodi, who rejected Mr Berlusconi's suggestion of forming a grand coalition, said talks on assembling a cabinet would start in the next few days.

"I have absolutely no fear of a reversal of the situation. It's a completely tranquil victory," he said.

Mr Prodi was declared official winner of the parliamentary election after an extremely close race.

Mr Berlusconi, who heads a centre-right bloc, said there had been irregularities in the vote - particularly in the votes of Italians abroad.

"We won't hesitate to recognise the political victory for our adversaries, but only once the necessary legal verification procedures have been completed," said Mr Berlusconi.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4903750.stm