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Berlusconi hands in resignation
 A pensive Silvio Berlusconi pictured before resigning. YOUR E-MAIL ALERTSROME, Italy (CNN) -- Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has handed in his resignation, but with his elected successor facing an extended wait before forming a new government, the country's policital uncertainty was far from over. Conservative Berlusconi, who for weeks refused to concede his narrow defeat at the hands of center-left Romano Prodi, led a last Cabinet meeting Tuesday before handing his resignation to President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi. All eyes were now on the president, whose term ends in mid-May, to see if he will bow to pressure to mandate Prodi as soon as possible or leave the process to his successor. If the president moves swiftly, Prodi will take up the reins on Thursday at the earliest. But if he defers, the new prime minister may face a wait of at least two weeks until he gets the mandate he needs to form a new government and pass a vote of confidence in parliament. The likely delay will extend a period of political limbo in Italy following the April 9-10 general elections, which saw Prodi claim a razor-thin victory that was disputed by his rival. Prodi's efforts to assert his control over Italian politics was strengthened over the weekend when new parliamentary speakers were elected in the upper and lower houses. "Democracy is moving forward, sometimes a little bit slowly but it is moving forward," Prodi told Reuters television on Tuesday. "This is an obvious step, it is an obligation and it is necessary." The delay could actually play into Prodi's hands as he struggles to divide up ministries within his broad coalition. "My aim is to be ready, but I have no date to suggest to President Ciampi," Prodi said, according to The Associated Press. "If he gives me the mandate soon, I have to have the (Cabinet) list in my pocket -- if, instead, the mandate is given me a few days later, I'll keep it (in the pocket) a few more days," the center-left leader said. In a May Day speech on Monday, Ciampi underlined the need to quickly revive Italy's economy and said political tensions must ease if the nation is to work together on that goal. Media mogul Berlusconi has vowed to continue his fight to keep the premiership through legal challenges of the vote outcome, AP said. Berlusconi has also vowed to lead fierce political opposition in the legislature. Copyright 2006 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report. 
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