Ex-premier Berlusconi 'declares war' on Italy PM Monti

ROME (AFP) - Italian ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi's warning that his party could withdraw its support for the government was seen by the press on Sunday as a declaration of war against Prime Minister Mario Monti and a bid to show he still carries political weight.

However analysts saw it as an empty threat made in anger which could even end up hurting Berlusconi's centre-right party.

"In the next few days we will decide with the leadership of my party whether it is better to immediately withdraw our confidence or to keep it, given the upcoming election (in April)," Berlusconi said at a press conference on Saturday after he was sentenced to jail for tax fraud.

"We need to weigh this government policy that leads to a spiral of recession for our economy" against the way "a vote of no-confidence could be seen by the world of finance," the 76-year-old added.