By-election blow for Berlusconi

ROME - The hopes of Italy's Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, of boosting his conservative coalition's fragile position in the Senate were dashed in a by-election that gave a huge victory to the left-wing opposition Democratic Party of the Left (PDS). Domenico Gallo (PDS) won 60.8 per cent of votes in Sunday's race against Vito Panati, who ran for the Freedom Alliance. Reuter