BBC News with David Austin

There's growing concern that the financial turmoil that's gripped Europe and brought Greece to the brink of catastrophe is now threatening the eurozone's third largest economy Italy. Borrowing costs for the Italian government have soared because of fears it may be unable to repay its massive debts. The renewed pressure has led the Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to reject further calls to resign. From Rome, Alan Johnston reports.

It was a day of extraordinary political tension here. There had been reports that Prime Minister Berlusconi's support was ebbing away and that he could no longer command a parliamentary majority. At one point, there was even a rumour that Mr Berlusconi was going to resign within hours, but he quickly moved to deny this. He insists that he has all the parliamentary support he needs to continue to govern Italy.

At least one person has been shot dead and several injured in the Liberian capital Monrovia at an opposition rally on the eve of a disputed presidential election run-off. The gunfire began when Liberian riot police clashed with opposition supporters outside their party headquarters. The BBC's Jonathan Paye-Layleh has been to the scene.

I saw the body of a boy in his 20s lie in a pool of blood. He was shot in the head. And beside him were about three to four persons who were also shot in the legs, and they were screaming in pain.

Liberia's deputy opposition leader, the former football star George Weah, said the second round of the election on Tuesday should now be called off.