Berlusconi Ousted

Opposition leader Romano Prodi has declared victory to the voters.

(AFP/Yahoo)"We have won," Prodi told an ecstatic crowd outside the headquarters of his centre-left Union coalition in central Rome

On the streets, the uncertainty had left thousands of Prodi supporters in suspense.

"We'll stay here until we're sure that Berlusconi has been sent home," said Gianluca Vecchio, one of several thousand people crowded into a central Roman piazza for what was to have been a victory celebration.

Prodi's office had postponed his expected victory address as projections for the election first swung in his direction, then lurched in favour of the prime minister, and finally appeared to switch back to Prodi.