AlHijjah 10, 1432, Nov 6, 2011, SPA -- Premier Silvio Berlusconi insisted Sunday he still commands enough support in Parliament to enact urgently needed measures to save Italy from financial disaster despite defections from his shaky coalition, AP reported. "We maintain that there are no alternatives to our government until 2013," when elections are due, Berlusconi said, addressing a political gathering by audio hookup. He was defying increasingly loud calls in the country, including from some from his own coalition's ranks, to either broaden his government's forces by bringing in opposition centrists or to have Berlusconi step down so that an interim government could be appointed until early elections could be held. Berlusconi dismissed both scenarios as offensive to the electorate, which had resoundingly voted for him in 2008 elections. "I don't see (the possibility) of broad backing for a leader put in place to the disrespect of Italians," Berlusconi said. An interim government, "with a puppet as premier," was likewise unacceptable, he added. -- SPA
