Italy's small Union of Christian Democrats (UDC) party has decided to withdraw from Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's cabinet, UDC leader and European Affairs Minister Rocco Buttiglione said on Friday. The UDC, which has four ministers in the center-right administration, said previously it would continue to support Berlusconi in parliamentary votes. However, Friday's decision meant that Berlusconi would almost certainly have to resign as prime minister and immediately seek a fresh mandate from parliament. The UDC's move was a protest at Berlusconi's refusal to make sweeping changes to the government line up and programme following a coalition defeat at regional elections last week.
