Italy wants UK to pay financial tax

Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti on has thrown his support behind a new tax on financial transactions, backing a push by Germany and France, but he wants it to include the UK.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy have suggested a tax among the 17-nation euro countries might be enough. Mr Monti said he would rather have it applied across the full 27-nation EU – which would be more difficult because of UK opposition – but did not rule out a eurozone-only deal.