Looks like Berlusconi is going to stay on as the dictator of Italy

[NNN0LHI]

http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-04-11T180939Z_01_L06742415_RTRUKOC_0_UK-ITALY-ELECTION.xml

Italy's Berlusconi rejects Prodi victory

ROME (Reuters) - Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi rejected centre-left leader Romano Prodi's claim to victory in general elections on Tuesday and alleged widespread voting irregularities, throwing Italy into political chaos.

But the 69-year-old leader proposed an alternative to a protracted dispute over the closest election in modern Italian history, saying his rivals should consider forming a broad coalition bridging the right and left as in Germany.

Such a coalition, however, seemed unlikely with official data showing Prodi's broad alliance had won control of both houses of parliament and with it a claim to power.

"No one can claim victory at this point," Berlusconi, flanked by leaders of his centre-right bloc, told reporters, saying there had been irregularities with overseas votes that needed to be investigated.

[Benhurst]

1. BushAmerican-style "democracy" on the move. NT

[Burried News]

2. Looks like everyone is learning how to kill democracy ...

[Kikosexy2]

3. Elections 2000...

revisited...demand a recount, I say!!!

[Supersedeas]

4. Bush allies - what the Italian Diebold didn't quite get the job done?

[bullimiami]

5. exit polls showed prodi winning by 5% and the final tally was virtually

dead even. i would say there probably were irregularities and berlusconi should know.

from the numbers you would have to say the irregularities benefitted burlusconi.

[Beetwasher]

11. Yup, Investigate Away!

n/t

[C_U_L8R]

6. Italians KNOW what to do with their dictators

and setting a fine example too

[bullimiami]

7. i think its wait and see how they deal with this time.

[A HERETIC I AM]

8. Calling him a dictator is going a little far in my opinion.

He is Prime Minister.

Be fair. He isnt a Dictator by any stretch of the imagination.

[TankLV]

9. OK then - Wannabe Fascist Dictator - is that better?

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

13. That, IMHO, is 100% accurate. Remember -- he is an admirer of Mussolini

and one of the parties that support him is the (not in name) fascist party, of which Mussolini's granddaughter is one of the key figures.

Wannabe is accurate.

[Beetwasher]

10. What A Scumbag

Let them investigate, I'd be willing to bet all the irregularities favored Berlusconi and he really lost by a lot more.

[LSK]

12. will the Italians launch massive protests?

I sure hope so.

[NNN0LHI]

14. I haven't heard about any n/t

[WilliamPitt]

15. Sore Losermantonio

:P