Austerity-hit Italy votes in crucial euro zone election

ROME (AFP) - Italians fed up with austerity voted on Sunday in the country's most important election in a generation, as Europe held its breath for signs of fresh instability in the euro zone's third-largest economy.

Millions turned out to vote for the first time since billionaire tycoon Silvio Berlusconi was ousted in 2011 during a wave of financial market panic and was replaced by former Eurocrat Mario Monti.

There was a commotion as Mr Berlusconi came to vote in Milan when three topless feminists hurled themselves towards him with "Basta Berlusconi" ("Enough With Berlusconi") scrawled on their backs.

Centre-left Democratic Party leader Pier Luigi Bersani is the most likely winner, but analysts say he may fall short of a majority and need to weave together a coalition that could prove unsteady.