Analysis - Risk of Italian crisis recedes but respite may be brief

ROME (Reuters) - Silvio Berlusconi has pulled back from toppling the Italian government but the respite may be brief, and the fragile coalition remains too divided to pass reforms that the economy urgently needs.

The 76-year-old former prime minister did not follow through on threats to bring down the left-right government when he spoke on Wednesday about his conviction for tax fraud and sentencing to up to a year of house arrest or community service.