One potential issue _ Iraq _ was largely deflated before the campaign began, when Berlusconi announced that Italy's troops there would be withdrawn by year's end.

Berlusconi had strongly supported U.S. President George W. Bush over Iraq despite fierce opposition among Italians against the war.

Prodi has said he would bring troops home as soon as possible, security conditions permitting.

While Italians were mainly preoccupied by economic worries, the candidates seemed to throw more insults at each other than comprehensive plans for turning around the economy.

Berlusconi promised to abolish a homeowner's property tax. Prodi said he would revive an inheritance tax abolished by Berlusconi, but only for the richest. He also promised to cut payroll taxes to try to spur hiring.

Critics contended that instead of helping the economy, Berlusconi used his comfortable majority in Parliament above all to push through laws to protect his business interests and help him in his years of judicial woes. Berlusconi contends the laws benefit all Italians and that he has been the innocent victim of left-leaning prosecutors.

Berlusconi depicted Prodi as a front-man for Communists in a campaign to damage Italian democracy.

Italians were voting under a proportional system, thanks to a law pushed through by Berlusconi's government to increase the chances that his smaller allies would win seats in Parliament.