Italian President Giuseppe Saragat today (Sunday) gave outgoing Prime Minister Mariano Rumor a mandate to form a new centre-left coalition government -- a task the premier shouldered with reservation.

The Government, a coalition of Christian Democrats, Republican and Socialists collapsed after only six months in office, because of a split in the Socialist Party.

The speed with which the premier was selected underlined fears that a prolonged crisis might increase social and industrial unrest in the country.

Signor Rumor, a 54-year-old bachelor, formerly a schoolmaster, told reporters after seeing President Saragat: "I accepted with reservation. I am fully aware that the task is very difficult". But he added that a new government was urgently needed to deal with the country's pressing problems.

He said he would meet representatives of the centre-left parties and do everything possible to re-launch the old coalition, which he considered to be the ideal one for Italy.