Second day of talks on new Italian government

Italy’s president began a second day of talks with political leaders today, in what is expected to be a final round of consultations on the formation of a new government after the resignation of Premier Romano Prodi’s nine-month-old Cabinet.

Mr Prodi stepped down on Wednesday evening after an embarrassing parliamentary defeat over foreign policy, including the government’s plan to keep troops in Afghanistan. He is staying on in a caretaker role.