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Italian crisis talks as PM quits Italian crisis talks as PM quits
(about 1 hour later)
Italian President Giorgio Napolitano is to begin crisis talks following the resignation of Prime Minister Romano Prodi after just 10 months in office.Italian President Giorgio Napolitano is to begin crisis talks following the resignation of Prime Minister Romano Prodi after just 10 months in office.
Mr Prodi stood down after several of his coalition partners opposed troop deployments in Afghanistan and plans to expand a US airbase in northern Italy.Mr Prodi stood down after several of his coalition partners opposed troop deployments in Afghanistan and plans to expand a US airbase in northern Italy.
President Napolitano could accept Mr Prodi's resignation or ask him to stay in power and form a new coalition. President Napolitano may call new elections if agreement is not reached on forming a new coalition government.
The most radical option would be to call for a fresh election. Mr Prodi will stay on as caretaker prime minister in the meantime.
We are ready to renew our full confidence in Prodi Dario FranceschiniCoalition leader in lower house The BBC's Mark Duff in Milan says the smart money is on a much-weakened Mr Prodi being offered a new mandate to govern.
A spokesman for the prime minister said Mr Prodi needed the full support of the coalition if he was to continue. Failing that, he says, the president may feel obliged to construct a temporary government of technocrats to hold the fort - and push through urgent measures like pensions reform and the next year's budget.
"Prodi has acknowledged this is a serious crisis and he doesn't have a majority in the Senate," Silvio Sircana said. In the longer term, some pundits are suggesting that Mr Prodi - himself a committed Catholic - may be tempted to recruit some like-minded Christian democrat politicians from the opposition in an attempt to rid himself of the need to rely on the unreformed Communists who have proved so troublesome, our correspondent adds.
"He is ready to carry on as prime minister if, and only if, he is guaranteed the full support of all the parties in the majority from now on." Sitting suspended
The coalition's leader in the lower house of parliament, Dario Franceschini, said the main parties in the governing alliance would continue to back the now-caretaker prime minister.
"We are ready to renew our full confidence in Prodi," he said.
"Let's hope the consultations will be useful to clear things up."
Dramatic scenes
Mr Napolitano cut short a trip to Bologna to return to Rome for talks with Mr Prodi.Mr Napolitano cut short a trip to Bologna to return to Rome for talks with Mr Prodi.
He could also ask Mr Prodi, who took office with a wafer-thin parliamentary majority, to test his support with a confidence vote, ask him to form a new government, choose a different prime minister from the ruling coalition or appoint a government of technocrats. The president will begin consulting party leaders at 1000 (0900 GMT).
A statement from the president's office said he "reserved his decision" on Mr Prodi's move. The coalition's leader in the lower house of parliament, Dario Franceschini, said the main parties in the governing alliance would continue to back Mr Prodi.
Consultations with party leaders are set to begin at 1000 (0900 GMT). There were dramatic scenes in the upper house, the Senate, as the government lost its motion by just two votes.
Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema had earlier said the government could resign if it lost the parliamentary motion. The result was met by cries of "resign! resign!" by right-wing senators, and the sitting was suspended shortly afterwards.
The announcement of the result of the vote 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 non-binding motion, saying unity was crucial for Italy to retain its place on the world stage.
The foreign minister had urged senators to approve the motion - which is non-binding - saying unity was crucial for Italy to retain its place on the world stage.
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.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.
It received 158 votes in favour, just short of the majority of 160 needed for approval, while 136 members of the conservative opposition voted against the motion. It received 158 votes in favour, just short of the majority of 160 needed for approval, while 136 members of the conservative opposition voted against it.
Some 24 senators decided to abstain from the vote. Some 24 senators abstained