Counting the votes in Italy as election ends in stalemate

Italy's parliamentary elections have ended in stalemate and the possibility of a hung parliament.

Italy's interior ministry is overseeing the election count and journalists there are awaiting the final results.

With nearly all the votes counted, the centre-left has narrowly won the lower house of parliament but Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right is challenging for control of the Senate

A protest movement led by comedian Beppe Grillo surged into third place.

Alan Johnston reports from the Interior Ministry.