Electoral campaigning ends in Italy

Campaigning for Italy's general election, to be held on Sunday and Monday, has ended with candidates banned from publicly rallying for support in the 24 hours before the polls open.

The outcome of the election, a key vote amid the country's long economic recession, is deeply uncertain, analysts have said.

Four political leaders are in the race, including outgoing Prime Minister Mario Monto and former premier Silvio Berlusconi.

Comedian-turned-politican Beppe Grillo, the 64-year-old leader of the protest Five Star Movement party, has grabbed headlines and tapped into a national mood of disillusion, calling for established parties to "get out" at a rally in Rome attended by about half a million people.

"This vote is not at all certain," said one pollster who asked not to be named because of a ban on the publication of opinion surveys in the fortnight before voting. "One percentage point either way could lead to chaos or a clear winner."

Italy is suffering its longest economic recession in 20 years, with public debt standing above 120 percent of GDP.

The polls suggest there will also be a strong turnout for popular comedian Beppe Grillo's Five Star Movement (Movimento 5 Stelle or M5S) - an anti-establishment citizens' movement.

M5S held a huge final rally in Rome, where Grillo delivered one of his trademark, raucous speeches, savaging traditional parties.

Referring to politicians, he said: "You have consumed the entire country, the lives of thousands of people. You must go home."

Earlier, Berlusconi had attacked his left-wing opponents, accusing them of having an envious attitude towards the country's hardworking, entrepreneurial class.

His centre-right alliance PDL has been gaining ground but was still thought to be lagging behind the PD when a poll blackout was imposed earlier this month.

Bersani ended his campaign with an address in a theatre in Rome, in which he cast himself as an honest man, ready to form a government that Italians could trust, says our correspondent.

The election is being held two months early, after Mr Berlusconi's party withdrew its support for Mr Monti's technocratic government.

Monti has introduced cuts to public services in an effort to reduce national borrowing and maintain the confidence of financial markets.

Bersani, a former Communist, has pledged to continue with Mr Monti's reforms, but suggests current European policy needs to do more to promote growth and jobs.

However, recent weeks have seen a narrowing of his lead over the centre-right coalition of Mr Berlusconi, who is critical of austerity measures.

The election is being closely watched by economists, who are worried about the effect Italy's future policies may have on the eurozone economy.

London-based analysts Capital Economics said an unclear outcome to the election was its biggest concern.

"A hung parliament might plunge Italy and the eurozone back into crisis rather sooner," it said