Italian govt wants replacement of central bank top officials

The Italian government is asking for some top officials at the central bank to be replaced, a senior official in the prime minister's office said on Friday. Stefano Buffagni, an undersecretary to Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, made the comment at a book launch which was also attended by Bank of Italy Governor Ignazio Visco. Buffagni stressed that the government respected the bank's independence.

The leaders of the ruling coalition two parties, Luigi Di Maio and Matteo Salvini, have recently called for a change of leadership at the central bank, accusing it of failing to provide adequate oversight of ailing banks. 

(With inputs from agencies.)