Two populist and stridently anti-European Union political groups, both fierce rivals, surged in Italy's parliamentary election at the expense of the country's traditional powers, but neither gained enough support to govern alone, preliminary results showed.

Austrian foreign minister Sebastian Kurz has urged his Italian counterpart not to allow migrants arriving by boat to Italy's islands to travel on to the mainland, declaring that "being saved in the Mediterranean cannot be connected with a ticket to Central Europe".

Italy's crucial elections appear to be heading toward deadlock, according to initial results.

Italy tonight pledged to work for a constitutional amendment requiring the government to balance its budget in a bid to ressure domestic and foreign investors that its finances are sound.

A Rwandan priest who has been accused over the 1994 Rwanda genocide is ready to face his accusers.