Italian president braces for likely Berlusconi resignation

Rome: Italy's president has summoned the speakers of Parliament for discussions about the country's political crisis following the latest indications that Premier Silvio Berlusconi's days in office are numbered.

Berlusconi has been battling with former ally Gianfranco Fini, who has the numbers to bring the government down. Fini has urged Berlusconi to resign, and on Monday pulled men loyal to him from the government.

Fini is also speaker of the lower Chamber of Deputies, and in that role was to meet yesterday with President Giorgio Napolitano and the Senate speaker.

Berlusconi and his allies agreed that the opposition's no-confidence motion would be discussed after the budget passes.