Berlusconi wins Senate vote of confidence

Premier Silvio Berlusconi won a second and final vote of confidence in parliament today, clearing the last hurdle before his new government is fully empowered to rule following a crisis that had raised the possibility of early elections.

The premier hopes his new Cabinet will allow him to lead the country to a general vote in mid-2006 and improve his popularity, which has been sagging due to a weak economy and repercussions from the mistaken shooting of an Italian intelligence agent by US forces in Iraq last month.