 Italy's Romano Prodi has finally been asked to form a new government, more than a month after narrowly winning a national election. President Giorgio Napolitano gave Mr Prodi the mandate after consulting former presidents and party chiefs, including outgoing centre-right prime minister Silvio Berlusconi who insisted he wanted more checks on the results of the election. Mr Prodi accepted and went straight back into talks with his coalition allies, who range from Roman Catholic moderates to communists, over the make-up of the Government. The Government is expected to be sworn in on Wednesday. |