Italy faces snap poll as reform thwarted

Article reports that Italy was heading for snap parliamentary elections, 4 February 2008, after Silvio Berlusconi, opposition leader and former prime minister, successfully thwarted efforts initiated by President Giorgio Napolitan, the Italian head of state to delay polls until after reform of the voting system.

Deutsche Welle, 5.2.08: Italy Faces Snap Elections as Government Discussions Fail http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3107771,00.html

BBC News, 6.2.08: Italy leader 'to call snap polls' http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7228915.stm

BBC News, 4.2.08: Berlusconi spurns coalition bid http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7226388.stm

---