Italy's League says Berlusconi could 'step aside' to allow new govt

Forza Italia leader Silvio Berlusconi speaks following a talk with Italian President Sergio Mattarella at the Quirinale palace in Rome, Italy, April 12, 2018. REUTERS/Max Rossi

ROME (Reuters) - The leader of Italy's far-right League, Matteo Salvini, on Monday raised the possibility that his electoral ally Silvio Berlusconi could "step aside" to allow a government to be formed after two months of deadlock.

"Maybe in the coming hours Berlusconi or the 5-Star Movement will step aside," Salvini told supporters on Facebook.

5-Star says it is ready to form a government with the League but will not enter a coalition that includes Berlusconi. So far Salvini has refused to abandon his old ally and Berlusconi has rejected any suggestion that he should withdraw.

(Reporting by Gavin Jones; Editing by Crispian Balmer)