ROME - Italy's Parliament was dissolved Wednesday after inter-party talks failed to form an interim government.

After ordering the dissolution, caretaker leader Italian President Giorgio Napolitano was arranging a Cabinet meeting to arrange for national elections, which by law must be contested within 70 days, the ANSA news agency said.

Italian media widely said the election would most likely fall on April 13-14, which would allow national elections to coincide with administrative ones throughout the country.

The impasse came after center-left Prime Minister Romano Prodi resigned last month after losing a confidence vote in the Senate.

Senate Speaker Franco Marini led the bid to create an interim government but was rebuffed by center-right parties, ANSA said.

Wednesday's dissolution created Italy's second shortest legislature ever at 648 days, the report said.

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