Berlusconi asked to form Italian new government

Source: Xinhua | 05-08-2008 13:02

ROME, May 7 (Xinhua) -- Italian President Giorgio Napolitano on Wednesday evening asked center-right coalition leader Silvio Berlusconi to form a new Italian government, the 62nd since the end of WWII.

Berlusconi broke with protocol and made history by immediately accepting and handing the president a list of ministers who will be in his new government.

Traditionally, a candidate asked to form a government accepts "with reservations," only to return several days later with his list and a decision to lift his "reservations."

Editor:Xiong