Italy's co-ruling 5-Star Movement backs Conte as new PM - party sources

Italy's co-ruling 5-Star Movement will propose President Sergio Mattarella to hand the mandate to form a new government to caretaker Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, party sources said on Wednesday.

"The 5-Star Movement will propose Giuseppe Conte, who represents a point of reference and guarantees the formation of a new government," the sources said.

Conte, who still hopes to pull together a new administration, resigned on Tuesday after losing the support of Italia Viva, a junior coalition partner.