Italian news agencies, citing sources close to the prime minister, say Mr. Prodi told President Giorgio Napolitano that he intends to go through with the Senate vote later today.

In a statement, Mr. Prodi said he would go to the Senate in mid-afternoon. But he did not explicitly say whether he will submit to the vote.

Mr. Prodi won a confidence vote Wednesday in the lower house, where his coalition holds a clear majority. But the coalition lost its slim Senate majority last week, when a key ally quit the government.

Last week, Justice Minister Clemente Mastela stepped down and said his small centrist party would oppose the prime minister in any confidence vote. Mastela is the target of a government corruption probe.

Two other senators Wednesday also said they will not support Mr. Prodi.

Source: By VOA News