Rome: Conservative billionaire Silvio Berlusconi won Italy's general elections, securing a third term as prime minister but warning of tough times ahead for the country.

"I will govern for five years," the 71-year-old media magnate told public television after his centre-right coalition won an unexpectedly wide margin of victory yesterday. "We have difficult months ahead that will require great strength."

He offered "an affectionate kiss to all Italians" before ending the telephone interview.

Berlusconi's centre-left rival Walter Veltroni, conceded defeat, saying: "As is the custom in all Western democracies, I telephoned Berlusconi to acknowledge his victory and wish him good luck in his work."

Berlusconi will return to the prime minister's office for the third time since 1994,the year after he burst onto the political stage with his party of the time, Forza Italia! (Go Italy!).

The Piepoli polling institute predicted Berlusconi's coalition would win 162 of the Senate s 315 seats, giving him six more than the minimum needed for an absolute majority.

Victory in the Senate is essential to be able to govern, and since seats are allotted on a regional basis the makeup of the upper house does not always reflect the national vote.

The upper house was the scene of outgoing Prime Minister Romano Prodi's downfall in January, when a small party with just three senators withdrew its support for the centre-left coalition.

Source : PTI