Berlusconi criticises Monti's campaign about-face

ROME (AP) - Ex-Premier Silvio Berlusconi sharply criticised the decision by Mr Mario Monti to run in Italy's general elections and vowed to launch a parliamentary inquiry into the 2011 fall of his government and appointment of Monti as Italy's premier.

He spoke out after Mr Monti ended weeks of hedging and announced on Friday he would head a coalition of centrist forces, businessmen and pro-Vatican forces running for office in Feb 24-25 elections.

Mr Berlusconi said he never expected Mr Monti would renege on his repeated assurances that he "wouldn't use the public prominence as head of a technical government for an ulterior presence in politics." He said the decision represented a "loss of credibility" for Mr Monti, a respected economist and former European Commissioner, and said if he is elected premier he would immediately launch a parliamentary inquiry into the fall of his government.

"There was a serious wound to democracy inflicted not just on us but on all Italians," Mr Berlusconi said as he arrived at Milan's train station after a trip from Rome.