Italy's premier quits over war vote

Stung by a bruising foreign policy defeat Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi stepped down Wednesday, his center-left government collapsing after just nine months in power.

Prodi failed to win parliamentary endorsement of his decision to maintain Italian troops in Afghanistan, a loss attributed in part to desertions by members of his coalition who oppose continued cooperation with the U.S. military in Italy and abroad.

Chants of 'Quit! Quit!' filled the Italian Senate as opposition politicians realized Prodi had lost the vote. A few hours later, he tendered his resignation to Italian President Giorgio Napolitano.