ITALY . . . BERLUSCONI TO FACE THE MUSIC

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi today said he would stay in office to face a no-confidence vote in parliament, rather than resign and plot a political comeback, as one of his chief aides predicted yesterday. Instead, the media magnate warned Italian lawmakers in a speech that voting this week to oust his seven-month-old coalition would turn voters against them. If he loses the no-confidence vote, Berlusconi said, he'll ask President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro to call another election to select Italy's 54th government in 49 years. The controversy revolves around a high-profile criminal inquiry into bribery allegations involving his own firms.