BEIJING, April 5 -- Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has suffered a crushing defeat in two-day regional elections.

    Results give a huge boost to centre-left leader Romano Prodi's hopes of unseating him in next year's general election.

    Berlusconi's centre-right coalition appears to have lost 11 of the 13 regions at stake, holding on to just two.

    The death of Pope John Paul on Saturday overshadowed the election but turnout was still 71 percent.

    The final results are expected on Tuesday.

    (Source: CRIENGLISH.com)