Italy's Bersani says bid to form government over, new phase begins

ROME (Reuters) - Italy's centre-left leader Pier Luigi Bersani said on Tuesday his bid to form a government after last month's deadlocked election was over and a new phase had begun, after his failure to gather enough support to win a confidence vote.

"My task has been ended in this new phase," Bersani told reporters, after President Giorgio Napolitano summoned a special group of 10 "wise men" to propose a basic set of reforms to be backed by all parties.