| 30.01.2008 | 22:00 UTC
Marini asked to try and form a temporary government
Italian President Giorgio Napolitano has asked Senate President Franco Marini to try to form a transitional government in order to reform voting rules ahead of new elections. Napolitano is hoping this will end the political crisis that was sparked by the collapse of Prime Minister Romano Prodi's government last week. Prodi resigned last Thursday after losing a Senate vote of confidence, ending 20 months of government by his fragile centre-left coalition. Prodi lost his slim Senate majority after a small centrist Catholic party withdrew from his coalition.
