Italian Socialists rule out coalition with Communists

Italy's Socialists ruled out the possibility of forming a coalition government with the Communists after elections next month. Their statement ended weeks of speculation over the party's intentions after forcing elections last month by withdrawing support from the four-party coalition government of Amintore Fanfani. The Communists had repeatedly called on the Socialists to form a left-wing alliance to end the political domination of the Christian Democrats.