Berlusconi says he's resigning for good of Italy

AP Photo/Andrew Medichini

Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, right, talks to Interior Minister Roberto Maroni during a voting session at the Lower Chamber, in Rome, Tuesday.

ROME (AP) — Premier Silvio Berlusconi says his decision to resign after parliament passes economic reforms is for the good of the country, and to settle financial markets that have lost confidence in Italy's ability to rein in debt and spur growth.

Berlusconi said late Tuesday that he would prefer to call early elections, but that the decision rests with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano.

In comments that marked a dramatic shift from his normally defiant tone, Berlusconi conceded he had lost his parliamentary majority during a routine vote Tuesday and that "things like who leads or who doesn't lead the government" is less important than doing "what is right for the country."