Rome: Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi has announced that he will retire from politics after the upcoming parliamentary elections in mid-April.

"I am finished with Italian politics and possibly also with politics in general," Prodi said Sunday in an interview with Sky TG24 television.

"The world is full of opportunities and there are so many people who are awaiting help and peace," the 68-year-old leader said.

"There is always something new to build." The centre-left government stepped down following a political crisis at the end of January.

Prodi said soon after the collapse of the government that he did not intend to stand as the main candidate for the coalition.

Source : IANS