Center-left dominates Italian elections

ROME, May 30 (UPI) -- Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi Tuesday solidified his center-left government with local election victories in Rome, Naples and Turin, ANSA reported.

Balloting was held in 23 major cities Sunday and Monday, and those aligned with Prodi's government won 14 contests outright. The center-right took four elections and runoffs were set in five others in two weeks.

Among provincial governments, five went center-left and three center-right, ending the 50-50 split among provinces.

"Apart from Milan, the most important other cities are all in our hands," Prodi said.

ANSA reported turnout was lower than expected, just 71.2 percent.