Italy's president today asked Romano Prodi to stay on as premier and face a confidence vote in parliament.

Political confusion deepened in Rome tonight when Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi contradicted earlier expectations that he was about to resign and form a new government by saying he had not stepped down.

Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi held last-minute talks today with the leader of a rebel centrist party in hopes of patching up divisions that have brought his four-year government to the brink of collapse.

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.