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Prodi asked to stay on as Italy PM

From Rome Bureau Chief Alessio Vinci

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ROME, Italy (CNN) -- Italian President Giorgio Napolitano on Saturday rejected Romano Prodi's resignation earlier this week from the post of the country's prime minister, a move designed to end the country's political upheaval.

Prodi -- who was directed by Napolitano to gain support from both chambers of parliament -- said: "I will seek a vote of confidence as soon as possible, with renewed impetus and a united coalition."

The vote is expected to be held next week.

Prodi -- who prevailed in office with a coalition of reformed and hard-core Communists, centrist market reformers, and Catholics -- resigned from office on Wednesday because he lost a key foreign policy vote in the upper house of parliament. He then moved into a caretaker role as prime minister.

Prodi -- whose government has had a razor-thin advantage in parliament -- quit because he was unable to muster support for maintaining Italian troops in Afghanistan and for his decision to allow the United States to expand a military base in northern Italy.

The development generated political bickering and talk in the media of the return of a revolving-door government in Italy. It also spawned political talks to shore up the Prodi government.

By Friday, Prodi's allies, including those who voted against him, agreed to a non-negotiable 12-point policy program that lifts their opposition to the Afghan deployment and the base expansion, among other things.

Prodi's future as prime minister will be tested when parliament members vote on the base and the deployment next month, policies opposed by some far-left lawmakers despite the agreement.

Some analysts believe that fears over the return of Silvio Berlusconi as prime minister is keeping together the motley coalition, where policy divisions run deep.

Berlusconi had demanded new elections, but President Napolitano said there was not enough support to dissolve parliament, not even among opposition leaders.

Copyright 2007 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.

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