This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/7201959.stm

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Italy PM to face confidence vote Italy PM to face confidence vote
(40 minutes later)
Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi will face a vote of confidence in parliament following the resignation of an ally from his coalition government.Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi will face a vote of confidence in parliament following the resignation of an ally from his coalition government.
The vote in the Chamber of Deputies will take place on Wednesday, Green Party leader Angelo Bonelli said.The vote in the Chamber of Deputies will take place on Wednesday, Green Party leader Angelo Bonelli said.
Mr Prodi is due later to brief MPs on the crisis, which saw former Justice Minister Clemente Mastella and two fellow MPs withdraw from the coalition. Mr Prodi had been due to brief MPs on the crisis, which saw former Justice Minister Clemente Mastella and two fellow MPs withdraw from the coalition.
Mr Mastella quit last week after being implicated in a corruption inquiry.Mr Mastella quit last week after being implicated in a corruption inquiry.
Mr Mastella, leader of the centrist Udeur party, has said he will probably vote against Mr Prodi in any motion of no confidence. His centrist Udeur party also has three seats in the upper house, the Senate, and its withdrawal has cost Mr Prodi his majority of one.
Mr Mastella has said the party will probably vote against the prime minister in any motion of no confidence.
The BBC's Christian Fraser in Rome says Mr Prodi does not want to rely on the seven unelected life senators, mostly former presidents, who tend to back him.
'Political situation'
After a meeting of coalition party leaders, Mr Bonelli said Mr Prodi would speak to the Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday "about the political situation" before formally asking for a vote of confidence.
Mr Bonelli said the parliamentary debate would begin at 1300 (1400 GMT) and the confidence vote at 1500 (1600 GMT).
The Environment Minister, Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio, is also due to face a vote of confidence in the Senate on Wednesday for his handling of the rubbish crisis in Naples.
Correspondents say defeat for him would further undermine Mr Prodi's position.
Italy's elected Senate is a more powerful body than upper houses in some other countries.
Under the constitution, any government must "obtain the confidence" of both it and the Chamber of Deputies.