1.   Dini, for the moment at least, is considered an acceptable compromise premier.

2.   Economist Mario Monti is among those mentioned as a possible compromise premier.

3.   One ex-president, Francesco Cossiga, has been named by Italian media as a possible compromise premier.

4.   One ex-president, Francesco Cossiga, has been named by Italian media as a possible compromise premier or a temporary solution until elections.

5.   The wide popularity made him an ideal compromise premier between the Kremlin and the Communist opposition in parliament, and his appointment quelled a major political feud last autumn.

6.   But the Social Democrats bolted the alliance to help the LDP regain power in June last year when their leader Tomiichi Murayama was picked as a compromise premier.