Italian President Giorgio Napolitano started crisis talks on Friday meant to rescue Italy from political limbo after the resignation of the prime minister raised the specter of snap elections.

Italy's 61st government since World War II collapsed late on Thursday after Prime Minister Romano Prodi lost, as expected, a confidence vote in the Senate after just 20 months in office.

Napolitano will hold meetings until next Tuesday aimed at trying to avoid calling Italians back to the polls so quickly, possibly by forging consensus for an interim government.