Berlusconi wins vote test but without crucial majority

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Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's beleaguered centre-right coalition won a key vote in parliament on Tuesday but failed to garner an absolute majority of 316 seats.

The vote on Italy's 2010 public accounts - a precondition for the approval of any future budgets - was approved by 308 votes in favour.

"The government no longer has a majority in this chamber," Pier Luigi Bersani, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, said after the vote.

Addressing Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, he added: "Hand in your resignation."