Talks begin on selecting Italian PM after Berlusconi resigns

Italy’s president today began sounding out parliamentary and party leaders on who should lead the government and help save the country from financial disaster following the resignation of Silvio Berlusconi.

Giorgio Napolitano has a day of back-to-back meetings as he seeks to establish whether economist Mario Monti, a highly respected former European Union competition commissioner, or another contender can garner enough support to form a government.