A HIGHLY-CHARGED VOTE TO ELECT A SPEAKER FOR ITALY'S UPPER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT, WHICH HANDED VICTORY TO AN ALLY OF PRIME-MINISTER-IN-WAITING ROMANO PRODI, WAS ANNULLED ON FRIDAY AND A FRESH BALLOT WAS ORDERED, ACCORDING TO REUTERS. THE INITIAL COUNT GAVE CENTRE-LEFT CANDIDATE FRANCO MARINI A ONE-VOTE VICTORY FOR THE PRESTIGIOUS POST. HOWEVER, CENTRE-RIGHT POLITICIANS COMPLAINED THAT MARINI'S FIRST NAME WAS GIVEN AS FRANCESCO ON TWO OF THE BALLOTS, MAKING THEM INVALID. PROVISIONAL SENATE SPEAKER OSCAR LUIGI SCALFARO TOLD THE HOUSE THAT AS A RESULT OF THE PROTESTS THE WHOLE VOTE WAS VOID AND WOULD BE REPEATED LATER IN THE EVENING. -
