ROME (Reuters) - Pier Luigi Bersani is expected to step down shortly as leader of Italy's centre-left Democratic Party (PD), a senior PD official said on Friday. "I believe Bersani will resign," said PD executive committee member Matteo Orfini as he entered a meeting of the party's parliamentarians. On Friday scores of party rebels disobeyed Bersani's instructions to vote for former Prime Minister Romano Prodi in an election for head of state, having also scuppered a different candidate proposed by Bersani on Thursday.

ROME (Reuters) - Italian centre left leader Pier Luigi Bersani said on Wednesday rival parties may be able to reach an agreement on the election of the next president of the Republic. "It seems to me that the search for a commonly shared solution has reached a good point. I believe the conditions exist to put forward a proposal to the parliamentary groups that meet this evening," Bersani said in statement.

Italian leftist leader Pier Luigi Bersani on Thursday said he had failed in his bid to form a new government following last month's inconclusive elections, leaving Italy in political limbo. "My work in these days has not led to a positive result," Bersani said after talks with President Giorgio Napolitano who is now expected to choose a different figure to lead Italy. dt/bm

Leftist leader Pier Luigi Bersani got the formal go-ahead on Friday to try to form Italy's next government even though his coalition failed to win an overall majority in parliament in elections last month. "I have asked Bersani to verify whether he has the parliamentary support required to form a new government. He will refer back to me as soon as possible," President Giorgio Napolitano said after two days of consultations with political leaders. dt/boc