Italy's Grillo rules out joining a coalition govt
Italian party leader says his protest party will not back a govt of mainstream parties
ROME (AP) -- The comic who is leading a potent new political force in Italy is ruling out joining any alliance to form a new government, dashing hopes of breaking the country's postelection stalemate.
Beppe Grillo, whose stunning success in this week's vote make his 5 Star Movement the third-biggest bloc in Parliament, wrote on his blog Wednesday that his party will not back a confidence vote on any new government formed by mainstream parties.
Grillo instead wants a new election soon. His protest party had railed at the failings of Italy's political class.
The political uncertainty is roiling financial markets worldwide. So far the top vote-getter, center-left leader Pier Luigi Bersani, is resisting offers by conservative Silvio Berlusconi of a "grand coalition" government that would include Berlusconi's second-place party.
