Berlusconi expected to resign

After weeks of refusing to concede election defeat, Italian conservative Premier Silvio Berlusconi was expected to lead a final cabinet meeting today and then resign, clearing the way for formation of a new government by centre-left leader Romano Prodi.

Italian state TV reported last night that Berlusconi would go to the presidential palace on the Quirinal Hill to hand in his resignation to President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi at about 1pm local time (noon Irish time) after the end of the cabinet meeting.