DHAKA: Italian prime minister Enrico Letta won a confidence vote with a crushing majority after his challenger Silvio Berlusconi abandoned his bid to topple the government in a stunning about-turn.

Out of 305 senators who took part in the vote, 235 were in favour of the government and 70 against with no abstentions, far higher than the majority required of 153 senators.

Earlier on Wednesday, Berlusconi abandoned his bid to topple Letta, saying he would vote to support the government in a humiliating climbdown after key allies rebelled.

‘We have decided to vote for confidence, not without internal disputes,’ Berlusconi said ahead of a confidence vote in Parliament called after he launched his challenge to the leadership on Saturday, reports The Straits Times.

BDST: 1938 HRS, OCT 02, 2013
RoR/SRS