MOSCOW. July 16 (Interfax) - The fuel and energy sector is a key area of Russian-Italian cooperation, and a lot of success has been achieved in this sector over the past few years, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said. "The new South Stream project has been launched.

By Peter Popham Silvio Berlusconi celebrated an election comeback triumph last night, putting him back in charge of the world's seventh biggest economy for a third term as the centre-left failed to summon the unity to stop him.

Prime Minister Romano Prodi resigned Thursday after losing a risky Senate confidence motion that obliged him to end his 20-month- old government. The center-left government fell four votes short of the 160 needed for victory. The vote was 156 to 161.

Prime Minister Romano Prodi resigned Thursday night after losing a key confidence vote for his government in the Senate and enduring a night of invective in the chamber _ with champagne even pulled out by his political rivals as the vote count was clear.

Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi lost a critical vote of confidence Thursday in the Senate, which could mean the end of his government in Rome. Prodi must now resign, the BBC reported.