Berlusconi seeks confidence vote to save coalition

President Giorgio Napolitano expressed deep concern about the viability of Italy's government yesterday as Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi scrambled to quell an internal rebellion by calling a confidence vote.
Napolitano talked of "acute tensions and uncertainties" in the center-right coalition and commentators said there was a growing possibility of elections next spring, a year ahead of schedule.
In an unusually blunt statement, the president asked if the Berlusconi government still had the necessary unity to pass urgent measures for the country and demanded that Berlusconi offer "a credible response" to the nation.