Italy mired in uncertainty of ballot dispute

Judges began inspecting more than 80,000 contested ballots, with Italian politics in turmoil and the country’s future mired in uncertainty following Romano Prodi’s narrow electoral victory and Premier Silvio Berlusconi’s demands for a recount.

Opposition leaders yesterday accused the premier of behaving irresponsibly for not accepting the election results given by the Interior Ministry following balloting on Sunday and Monday.