Prosecutors have notified the embattled governor of the Bank of Italy that he is under investigation for his role in a takeover battle between two banks, and that they plan to question him, his lawyer said yesterday.

An ally of Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi proposed pulling his party out of the government, reports said today, in a new blow for the conservative coalition after a stinging defeat in regional elections.

CROWDS of mourners streamed to a village in the Chechen foothills yesterday to bury President Akhmad Kadyrov, killed by a bomb in Chechnya’s capital, and his widely-feared son was named a top official in the republic hours later.

Israel will seek to retain major settlements in the West Bank, but will dismantle those close to Palestinian towns and villages ”wherever possible”, deputy premier Ehud Olmert said today.

ITALIAN prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, facing a German tourism boycott that would cost his country millions of pounds, yesterday came under fire from one of his closest political allies.

TURKEY'S foreign minister one of the country's most popular politicians - resigned yesterday dealing a critical blow to ailing Premier Bulent Ecevit's chances of survival.

By Selcan Hacaoglu, Ankara

TURKISH cabinet ministers, including the deputy premier, quit yesterday moves that will fuel calls for early elections and the resignation of ailing Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit.

The first opinion poll of the general election campaign tonight provided a big boost for Bertie Ahern and his Fianna Fail party.

The first opinion poll of the general election campaign tonight provided a big boost for Bertie Ahern and his Fianna Fail party.