DHAKA: Italy`s parliament is due to hold a vote of confidence in the governing coalition, with an attempt to topple PM Enrico Letta appearing to falter.

The vote was called after Silvio Berlusconi ordered ministers in his centre-right People of Freedom party (PDL) to leave the government.

But on the eve of the vote, leading PDL figures defied him, saying they would back Mr Letta.

Mr Letta has rejected the resignations of the five PDL ministers.

Berlusconi, a former prime minister, has accused Mr Letta of allowing his "political assassination through judicial means" - a reference to his criminal conviction for tax fraud in August.

"Even though I understand the risks that I am taking on, I have decided to put an end to the Letta government," Berlusconi said in a letter to the weekly magazine Tempi.

But in an apparent break with Berlusconi, his deputy and party secretary Angelino Alfano said PDL MPs should back Mr Letta in Wednesday`s confidence vote.

"I am firmly convinced that our party as a whole should vote confidence in Letta," said Mr Alfano, who is also Italy`s interior minister.

His comments caused the Italian stock market to jump on Tuesday as investors appeared increasingly confident that the government would not fall.

Source: BBC
BDST: 0936 HRS, OCT 02, 2013
AKA/BSK