Berlusconi faces stiff challenge as Italy goes to polls

ITALIAN Premier Silvio Berlusconi is facing a strong challenge from his centre-left opponent Romano Prodi in parliamentary elections marked by disenchantment over Italy's stagnant economy and a bitter campaign.

Skies were sunny across much of Italy as polls opened for the first of two days of voting. The first exit poll results are expected after polling stations close this afternoon with first partial results hours later.

During Saturday night, three Molotov cocktails were thrown against a school that houses a polling station in the north-eastern town of Vittorio Veneto, and fliers found at the scene denounced both the left-wing and right-wing coalitions. No one was hurt and the polling stations opened as planned.