Italian PM Mario Draghi fails in bid to revive government

When Prime Minister Mario Draghi announced that Italians had persuaded him not to resign, for much of Wednesday it looked as if his national unity government would survive.

He called for a new pact and a vote of confidence in the Senate.

But hours later three parties in the coalition said they would not take part in the vote.

Now, after a year and a half, his broad-based government encompassing right and left is set to collapse. read more