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Italy government loses key vote Italy government loses key vote
(30 minutes later)
The Italian government has lost a key vote in its upper house of parliament on the country's foreign policy.The Italian government has lost a key vote in its upper house of parliament on the country's foreign policy.
The Senate, where Prime Minister Romano Prodi's coalition holds a one-seat majority, voted against the government, prompting calls for its resignation.The Senate, where Prime Minister Romano Prodi's coalition holds a one-seat majority, voted against the government, prompting calls for its resignation.
Italy's foreign minister said earlier that the government should step down if the motion was not approved, saying it was a crucial test of government unity. Italy's foreign minister had said that the government should step down if the motion was not approved, saying it was a crucial test of government unity.
The motion was on troop deployment in Afghanistan and a US airbase in Italy. Coalition leaders are holding crisis talks in the prime minister's office.
Italy has some 1,900 soldiers stationed in Afghanistan under Nato command. Dramatic scenes
The announcement of the result was met by shouts of "resign! resign!" by right-wing senators. The announcement of the result was met by shouts of "resign! resign!" by right-wing senators. The sitting was suspended shortly afterwards.
Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema had urged senators to approve the motion, saying unity was crucial for Italy to retain its place on the world stage.Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema had urged senators to approve the motion, saying unity was crucial for Italy to retain its place on the world stage.
To be consistent, the government must now resign Senator Roberto Calderoli
"I say it loud and clear, this is what we need [...] and we are asked here to request this consensus.""I say it loud and clear, this is what we need [...] and we are asked here to request this consensus."
But a large number of senators decided to abstain from the vote, equivalent to voting against it. The motion asked the senate to approve the government's foreign policy, a policy which it said was inspired by a repudiation of war and respect for the role of the EU, UN and international alliances.
"To be consistent, the government must now resign," Opposition senator Roberto Calderoli said after the result. A large number of senators decided to abstain from the vote.
"To be consistent, the government must now resign," opposition senator Roberto Calderoli said after the result.
Double trouble
Analysts say that the outcome reveals the fragility of Mr Prodi's grip on power, coming just weeks after two Communist and one Green minister walked out of a cabinet vote on Afghanistan.Analysts say that the outcome reveals the fragility of Mr Prodi's grip on power, coming just weeks after two Communist and one Green minister walked out of a cabinet vote on Afghanistan.
The twin issues of the continued funding of troop deployment in Afghanistan, where Italy has some 1,900 soldiers, and the expansion of a US airbase in the north-eastern city of Vicenza have sparked fierce debate in Italy.
Last week, tens of thousands of people took to the streets in Vicenza in protest at the plans, which were approved by Mr Prodi's predecessor, Silvio Berlusconi.