(18 Apr 2006)
Rome - 18 April 2006
1. Palazzo Grazioli, Italian Prime Minister headquarters
2. Italian flag
3. Pan from journalists to representatives of the centre-right coalition holding a press conference
4. SOUNDBITE: (Italian) Sandro Bondi, Forza Italia Party representative
"Therefore, we appeal to the Court of Cassation, high guarantor of fairness in the electoral procedure, that it will work with accuracy to carry out all the necessary checks and guarantee the electoral result beyond any reasonable doubt".
5. Journalists
6. Mid shot of press conference
7. SOUNDBITE: (Italian) Andrea Ronchi, Alleanza Nazionale Party representative
"We ask the respect of the popular vote and we want to know, with respect, what the true electoral result is and we are ready, as in a democracy, to recognise it."
FILE: Rome - 10 April 2006
8. Exteriors of polling station
9. Various of ballots counting
STORYLINE
Allies of Italian Premiere Silvio Berlusconi, demanded on Tuesday that one of Italy''s top courts, responsible for counting ballots in the electoral recount, carry out their checks to beyond reasonable doubt.
"We appeal to the Court of Cassation, high guarantor of fairness in the electoral procedure, that it will work with accuracy to carry out all the necessary checks and guarantee the electoral result beyond any reasonable doubt," said Sandro Bondi, Forza Italia party representative at a press conference.
The Court of Cassation has been reviewing the votes and is expected to announce it''s findings in the next few days.
The allies contended in the statement that in the rush to complete the tally, lower courts had hurried through the process possibly sacrificing accuracy.
Andrea Ronchi, Alleanza Nazionale party representative said the appeal was only meant to respect the popular vote.
"We ask the respect of the popular vote...we want to know...what the true electoral result is," he said.
Berlusconi, who has led Italy for five years, has been refusing to concede defeat to centre-left challenger Romano Prodi, a former premier who won a razor-thin majority according to the Interior Ministry''s final count.
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