Italy earthquake 'kills nine'

At least nine people are reported dead in a magnitude 5.8 earthquake that struck the same area of northern Italy stricken by another fatal tremor on May 20.

Premier Mario Monti pledged in a hastily called news conference two hours after the quake that the government will do “all that it must and all that is possible in the briefest period to guarantee the resumption of normal life in this area so special, so important and so productive for Italy”.