ROME (Reuters) – Silvio Berlusconi dominated Italy for 17 years with a unique mix of political talent and brazen behaviour but left office brought low by the power of bond markets with the jeers of the Roman crowd ringing in his ears.

A born showman with a self-declared but real talent for making himself liked, the 75-year-old media magnate appeared embittered and isolated as he was driven to the residence of President Giorgio Napolitano to resign formally on Saturday.

ROME (Reuters) – Silvio Berlusconi dominated Italy for 17 years with a unique mix of political talent and brazen behavior but left office brought low by the power of bond markets with the jeers of the Roman crowd ringing in his ears.

A born showman with a self-declared but real talent for making himself liked, the 75-year-old media magnate appeared embittered and isolated as he was driven to the residence of President Giorgio Napolitano to resign formally Saturday.

ROME/ATHENS (Reuters) – Italy’s parliament was set to approve austerity measures on Saturday, triggering the formation of an emergency government to replace that of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, and meeting European Union demands to avert a euro zone meltdown.

After months of dither and delay, Rome appears to have got the message as bond markets pushed it to the brink of needing a bailout that the euro zone cannot afford.

ROME/ATHENS, Nov 12 (Reuters) – Italy’s parliament was
set to approve austerity measures on Saturday, triggering the
formation of an emergency government to replace that of Prime
Minister Silvio Berlusconi, and meeting European Union demands
to avert a euro zone meltdown.

After months of dither and delay, Rome appears to have got
the message as bond markets pushed it to the brink of needing a
bailout that the euro zone cannot afford.

ROME, Nov 11 (Reuters) – Italy’s Senate approved
economic reforms intended to reverse a collapse of market
confidence on Friday, kicking off a rapid transition that will
end the Berlusconi era and clear the way for an emergency
government within days.

The package of austerity measures demanded by the European
Union goes to the lower house which is expected to approve it on
Saturday, triggering the resignation of Prime Minister Silvio
Berlusconi and ending a 17-year era in which he has loomed large
over Italy.

ROME/ATHENS (Reuters) – Italy’s parliament began rushing through austerity measures demanded by the European Union to avert a euro zone meltdown, after U.S. President Barack Obama ratcheted up pressure for more dramatic action from the currency bloc.

Italy’s Senate approved a new budget law, clearing the way for approval of the package in the lower house on Saturday and the formation of an emergency government to replace that of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

ROME/ATHENS, Nov 11 (Reuters) – Italy’s parliament
began rushing through austerity measures demanded by the
European Union to avert a euro zone meltdown, after U.S.
President Barack Obama ratcheted up pressure for more dramatic
action from the currency bloc.

Italy’s Senate approved a new budget law, clearing the way
for approval of the package in the lower house on Saturday and
the formation of an emergency government to replace that of
Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

ROME, Nov 11 (Reuters) – Italy’s Senate approved
economic reforms intended to reverse a collapse of market
confidence on Friday, kicking off a rapid transition that will
end the Berlusconi era and clear the way for an emergency
government within days.

The package of austerity measures demanded by the European
Union will now go to the lower house which is expected to
approve it on Saturday, triggering the resignation of Prime
Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

ROME, Nov 10 (Reuters) – Former European Commissioner
Mario Monti emerged on Thursday as favourite to replace Silvio
Berlusconi at the head of an emergency government as Italy’s
politicians rushed to ward off a crisis that is endangering the
entire euro zone.

Dithering politicians seemed finally to have got the message
overnight after Italy’s borrowing costs soared way above
sustainable levels, and Monti was expected to be appointed
within days to try to restore Rome’s credibility.

ROME/BERLIN (Reuters) – Political and economic crisis in Italy spurred fears of a split in the euro zone with borrowing costs for Europe’s third biggest economy at unsustainable levels and the bloc unable to afford a bailout.

EU sources told Reuters that French and German officials had held discussions on a two-speed Europe with a smaller, more tightly integrated euro zone and a looser outer circle.