Crisis talks in Italy after Prodi resignation

ITALY’S president began talks with political leaders yesterday to discuss the formation of a new government following the end of Romano Prodi’s nine-month-old administration.

Prodi resigned on Wednesday evening after losing a key parliamentary vote on foreign policy, including plans to keep Italian troops in Afghanistan. He is staying on in a caretaker role.

The talks at the presidential palace were aimed at working out which political leaders, if any, might be able to muster enough support for a parliamentary majority and thus avoid a new election.