Berlusconi Rejects Idea of Technocratic Government

Italy still in state of political paralysis

Italian centre-right leader Silvio Berlusconi says he is against the idea of a new technocratic government for Italy like that led by Mario Monti.

Instead, he said he was ready to back a coalition with centre-left leader Pier Luigi Bersani, to end the deadlock since the February election.

But Mr Bersani, whose bloc won a narrow lead in the polls, has ruled out a coalition with the right.