Italian PM Berlusconi 'To Resign Today'

Sources within Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia party have been reported as saying that the premiere is to resign today so that a new coalition government can be formed.

An announcement was made yesterday that he would face a confidence vote on Thursday after his party was badly defeated in regional elections. Senior members of the Northern Alliance, coalition partners to Forza Italia, have threatened to resign.

The controversial billionaire leader has been dogged by scandal for some time, including accusations of Mafia involvement, corruption and a conflict of interest with his media empire.

(source)