The World - News from March 15, 1988

Italian President Francesco Cossiga began three days of political consultations in search of a new prime minister to replace Giovanni Goria, who stepped down last week after eight months in power. He is due to wind up the consultations Wednesday after meeting leaders of Italy’s three most important parties--the Christian Democrats, Socialists and opposition Communists. Goria, a Christian Democrat, resigned Friday in a dispute with the Socialists, the second-biggest party in the five-member coalition. The dispute was triggered by Goria’s decision to resume construction of a controversial nuclear power plant despite opposition from Socialist ministers.