Italy's Grillo Rules Out Coalition with Center-Left

Italian comedian Beppe Grillo, whose Five-Star Movement (M5S) surprisingly came third in last weekend's elections, has ruled out a coalition with the centre-left.

Pier Luigi Bersani's centre-left bloc narrowly defeated ex-PM Silvio Berlusconi in the lower house but has failed to secure a majority in the Senate.

Under the Italian political system, control of both houses is needed to govern.

Grillo told the BBC on Wednesday that he expected fresh elections within a year.

The comedian-turned-politician said he believed the two main coalitions - Bersani's Democratic Party and former Berlusconi's People of Freedom (PdL) movement - would come to an agreement, and that the Five-Star Movement would be in opposition.

The inconclusive polls have left Italy in political deadlock and pushed up borrowing costs for the government.