Italy's foreign minister to form govt

Italy's presidential palace says Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni has been asked to serve as premier and form the country's next government.

The announcement was made after Gentiloni met on Sunday with Italy's head of state, President Sergio Mattarella.

The 62-year-old Gentiloni, a Democrat like former premier Matteo Renzi, had emerged as a likely pick after Italy's president held three days of consultations with political and parliamentary leaders.

Renzi quit as premier last week after losing a reforms referendum.