Italian elections - Prodi wins

8.16.00pm GMT Tue 11th Apr 2006

Romano Prodi

The Italians voted in their General Election, it was very close, it was very difficult to get any information but Prodi and his Centre-left coalition has won control of both Houses. Current Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has not conceded and is demanding a recount. The results appear to show Prodi with 49.8% of the vote compared with 49.7% for Mr Berlusconi's centre-right coalition - a margin of some 25,000 votes amongst an electorate of 47 million.

In one of his first statements Prodi has committed to withdrawing Italian troops from Iraq.