ROME, April 16: Italy faced a second week of political stalemate on Sunday, prompting concern from Pope Benedict XVI, with Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi still refusing to recognize his leftist rival Romano Prodi’s narrow victory in last week’s general election.

The pope made a special appeal for harmony and calm in Italy during his multilingual “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and the world) Easter greetings to the faithful.

In comments greeted by loud applause from nearly 100,000 pilgrims massed around St Peter’s Square, Benedict called on Italy’s leaders to work for “harmony and authentic development, for the good of all.”

There seemed little sign of an end to the deadlock however.

As the 69-year-old prime minister retreated to his Sardinian mansion for the Easter break, his most senior aide kept up a verbal attack on Prodi, accusing him of throwing salt on Italy’s post-electoral wounds by brushing aside Berlusconi’s offer of power-sharing talks.

“Silvio Berlusconi has shown he is ready to start a series of discussions. Yet all we’ve seen from Prodi are muscular responses,” said Paolo Bonaiuti.

The supreme court is not expected to issue a final confirmation of Prodi’s victory until after the Easter weekend break, probably on Tuesday or Wednesday, when a recount of contested votes — demanded by Berlusconi — is expected to be finalised.

“Italy is split right in two after last Sunday’s vote,” said Bonaiuti, accusing Prodi of attempting “a trial of strength”.

“In this situation of deep division, what is Prodi doing? Instead of healing wounds, he’s throwing salt on them,” he added.

Prodi, the 66-year-old former EU Commission president, told reporters on Sunday that he was pressing ahead with forming a new government.

“Enough. It’s time to work. I am working calmly for a future government, and that’s what we must do,” said Prodi, whose tiny 25,000 vote majority was just enough to win his disparate Union coalition a working majority in the 630-seat lower house of parliament.—AFP