ROME, April 20: Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi resigned on Wednesday but vowed to form a new coalition government with the same partners, seeking to avert a snap general election and revive flagging political fortunes. “I accept the challenge of forming a new government,” Berlusconi told parliament, saying he had assurances from the four main parties in his centre-right coalition that they would back him.

His coalition was plunged into disarray when two coalition partners, the Union of Christian Democrats (UDC) and the right-wing National Alliance (AN), demanded sweeping changes after a heavy defeat in a regional ballot two weeks ago.

Mr Berlusconi, putting a brave face on the end of his ambition to become Italy’s first prime minister in modern history to lead the same administration for a full five-year term, told reporters later he planned only a few changes to his cabinet.

Under the Italian constitution, a prime minister is obliged to resign if he makes major changes to his cabinet.

The UDC and AN had called for a reduced role in government for the populist Northern League, which wants more autonomy for the rich north of Italy. A senior government politician said the industry, health and transport ministers were likely to lose their jobs.—Reuters