Italy president tells Monti to stay until new government formed

ROME (Reuters) - Italian President Giorgio Napolitano told Prime Minister Mario Monti on Saturday he would need to stay on as long as political parties fail to reach an accord that would allow a new government to be established after a deadlocked election.

Italy has been mired in political stalemate since the February vote that saw the centre-left alliance of Pier Luigi Bersani secure a majority in the lower house but fail to win the numbers to control the Senate as well and form a government.