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Alliance With US Rocks the Italian Government

The current crisis which has seen the fall of the Italian government led by Socialist Romano Prodi appears to be nearing an end. Reports from Italy indicate that Mr Prodi will be able to assemble a coalition giving him a parliamentary majority in a confidence vote next week.

Prodi’s government fell as communist Senators, members of the ruling coalition, voted against continuing the Italian troop presence in the NATO-led International Stabilization Force (ISAF) supporting the government of Afghanistan. The Communists had campaigned against Italian participation in what they see as an imperialist US war. More moderate political forces are becoming convinced that the US entanglement in Iraq has made it impossible for President Bush and administration leaders to give the focus necessary to success in Afghanistan, and are increasingly ready to voice opposition to Italian participation in ISAF.