1.
MV PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE BUILDING
0.05

2.
MV CAR WITH CARON & ANDREOTTI ARRIVES
0.14

3.
SV CARON PAN TO ANDREOTTI FROM CAR INTO BUILDING
0.22

4.
MV INT. BOTH LEAVING SARAGAT'S OFFICE PAST PRESS
0.40

5.
MV BOTH ONTO STEPS
0.46

6.
MV PIERACCINI LEAVING SARAGAT'S OFFICE
0.53

7.
CU PIERACCINI TALKING AT MICROPHONE
0.57

8.
LV PRESS & PIERACCINI
1.02



Initials JH/V/CT/SGM



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: REPRESENTATIVES OF ITALY'S LEADING POLITICAL PARTIES CONFERRED WITH PRESIDENT GIUSEPPE SARAGAT IN ROME'S QUIRINALE TODAY (SATURDAY) IN AN EFFORT TO RESOLVE THE COUNTRY'S WEEK-OLD GOVERNMENT CRISIS. MEANWHILE, IT WAS ANNOUNCED IN ROME THIS EVENING, OUTGOING PRIME MINISTER MARIANO RUMOR WILL CALL ON THE PRESIDENT TOMORROW AND IS EXPECTED TO BE ASKED TO FORM A NEW GOVERNMENT.

SIGNOR GIUSEPPE CARON AND SIGNOR GIULIO ANDREOTTI WERE AMONG THE FIRST TO MEET THE PRESIDENT IN HIS OFFICE TODAY. THE TWO MEN REPRESENT THE CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATS, WHO HOLD THE MOST SEATS IN THE ITALIAN PARLIAMENT AND ARE BACKING SIGNOR RUMOR IN AN EFFORT TO RENEW THE CENTRE-LEFT COALITION WHOSE COLLAPSE LAST WEEK PRECIPITATED THE CRISIS.

PRESIDENT SARAGAT ALSO CONFERRED WITH SIGNOR GIOVANNI PIERACCINI, OF THE ITALIAN SOCIALIST PARTY (P.S.I.). THE P.S.I. WAS SPLIT LAST WEEK WHEN A MINORITY GROUP OF MODERATES, OPPOSED TO ANY DIALOGUES WITH THE ITALIAN COMMUNISTS, FORMED THEIR OWN INDEPENDENT PARTY. WITH THE DIVISION, VETERAN SOCIALIST PARTY PRESIDENT PIETRO NENNI RESIGNED AS FOREIGN MINISTER, AND SIGNOR RUMOR'S CENTRE-LEFT COALITION COLLAPSED.

SIGNOR RUMOR IS EXPECTED TO TRY AND NEGOTIATE WITH MEMBERS OF THE CENTRE-LEFT PARTIES -- REPUBLICANS, SOCIALISTS AND BREAKAWAY MODERATE SOCIALISTS -- TO TRY AND FORM A VIABLE GOVERNMENT. THE PROBLEM IS INTENSIFIED BECAUSE THE REPUBLICANS AND MODERATE SOCIALISTS HAVE SAID THEY WILL NOT JOIN IN ANOTHER COALITION.