An Italian appeals court on May 9 confirmed a lower court's sentence against former Italian Prime Minister and leader of the center-right People of Freedom party Silvio Berlusconi for fiscal fraud, la Repubblica reported.

Two police officers were shot and wounded outside the Italian prime minister's office while the government of Prime Minister Enrico Letta was sworn in April 28, Reuters reported.

Italy formed a new government April 27 after two months of political deadlock, AP reported.

Enrico Letta, the deputy secretary of Italy's Democratic Party, was appointed as prime minister on April 24 by Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, Corriere della Sera reported.

Italian President Giorgio Napolitano was re-elected April 20, The Jerusalem Post reported.

Diplomats from 11 countries met in Istanbul on April 20 to discuss the Syrian crisis, Xinhua reported.

Italian President Giorgio Napolitano announced his candidacy for another term as president April 20, AFP reported.

Nigeria-based Islamist group Ansaru killed seven foreign hostages March 9, SITE Monitoring Service said, Reuters reported.

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has been convicted for wiretapping a political rival, ANSA reported March 7.