Berlusconi defiant as Italy awaits final word

Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi today remained defiant in his refusal to concede defeat to centre-left rival Romano Prodi as Italians awaited the official results of a count of contested ballots in close-fought parliamentary elections.

“At least on the basis of the popular vote, there’s no winner and no loser,” Berlusconi wrote in a letter published today in top Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera.