Berlusconi secures deal to form government

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has reached agreement with coalition partners in a deal that clears the way to forming…

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has reached agreement with coalition partners in a deal that clears the way to forming a new government.

Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini said Mr Berlusconi has agreed to temporarily resign as prime minister and receive a new mandate from President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi.

The government has been near collapse since the Union of Christian Democrats party quit the cabinet last Friday.

The centrist party has agreed to return to a new administration in a move that would avert a collapse of the coalition and snap elections.

The deal gives Mr Berlusconi a year to improve the centre-right's electoral prospects, dented by a stagnant economy and the damage caused by the latest infighting.

A poll published in Corriere della Serayesterday gave the centre-left opposition, headed by former European Commission president Romano Prodi, a lead of five percentage points over the government.

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