End of an era: Italy's Berlusconi resigns
NICOLE WINFIELDNICOLE WINFIELD, Associated Press?
?A man, waiting for the end of a Parliament session outside of the Lower Chamber, shows a mock magazine cover displaying resigning Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, in Rome, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011. Premier Silvio Berlusconi is expected to resign Saturday after the Parliament's lower chamber passed a panel of austerity reforms, ending a 17-year political era and setting in motion a transition aimed at bringing Italy back from the brink of economic crisis. (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca)
A man, waiting for the end of a Parliament session outside of the Lower Chamber, shows a mock magazine cover displaying resigning Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, in Rome, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011. Premier Silvio Berlusconi is expected to resign Saturday after the Parliament's lower chamber passed a panel of austerity reforms, ending a 17-year political era and setting in motion a transition aimed at bringing Italy back from the brink of economic crisis. (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca)
Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi arrives at the Lower Chamber in Rome, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011. Premier Silvio Berlusconi is expected to resign Saturday after the Parliament's lower chamber passed a panel of austerity reforms, ending a 17-year political era and setting in motion a transition aimed at bringing Italy back from the brink of economic crisis. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)
Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi, second from bottom, leaves at the end of a session of the Lower Chamber, in Rome, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011. Premier Silvio Berlusconi is expected to resign Saturday after the parliament's lower chamber passes the reforms, ending a 17-year political era and setting in motion a transition aimed at bringing Italy back from the brink of economic crisis. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)
Former European commissioner and top choice to steer the country out of its debt woes at the head of a transitional government, Mario Monti, center, arrives at Palazzo Chigi government's office for a meeting with Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, in Rome, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011. Berlusconi is expected to resign Saturday after the parliament's lower chamber passes European-demanded reforms aimed to to steer the country out of its debt, ending a 17-year political era and setting in motion a transition aimed at bringing Italy back from the brink of economic crisis. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)
Mario Monti, left, talks at the beginning of a voting session on economic reform measures demanded by the European Union, that should pave the way for Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi to leave office in a matter of days, at the Senate in Rome, Friday, Nov. 11, 2011. The prospect of a transitional government headed by respected non-partisan economist Mario Monti calmed markets for a second day, with Italy's 10-year borrowing rate down a further 0.21 percentage point to 6.59 percent. Shares were buoyant too, with the Milan stock index was up 1.7 percent in early trading at 15,477. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)
ROME (AP) ? Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi has resigned, ending a 17-year political era and setting in motion a transition aimed at bringing the country back from the brink of economic crisis.
A chorus of Handel's "Alleluia," performed by a few dozen singers and classical musicians, rang out in front of the president's palace as thousands of Italians poured into downtown Rome to rejoice at the end of Berlusconi's scandal-marred reign.
Hecklers shouted "Buffoon, Buffoon!" ? Italian for buffoon ? as Berlusconi's motorcade entered and exited the presidential palace, where he tendered his resignation to President Giorgio Napolitano.
Respected former European commissioner Mario Monti remained the top choice to try to steer the country out of its debt woes as the head of a transitional government.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
ROME (AP) ? Italy's presidential palace has confirmed that Premier Silvio Berlusconi has resigned, setting in motion a transition aimed at bringing Italy back from the brink of economic crisis.
Cheers broke out in front of the palace by the hundreds of people who gathered to witness Berlusconi's final act in office, ending a 17-year political era.
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