ROME, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Former Italian prime minister Silvio
Berlusconi opened the door to a second term for technocrat
premier Mario Monti on Tuesday by saying he was ready to drop
plans to run in next year's election.
Berlusconi is well known for making surprise statements that
are quickly reversed, but his comments suggested he had
abandoned hope of winning enough support to mount a credible
campaign as leader of the centre-right.
He said he wanted to unite a broad coalition capable of
defeating the centre-left, which is well ahead in opinion polls.
"Silvio Berlusconi has always said and continues to say that
he is ready to stand aside to allow all moderates to unite in a
single force that can face the left together," he told his own
Canale 5 television network.
"I have always wanted the good of the country I love, I have
never had any personal ambition," he said.
He declined to say who would lead his People of Freedom
(PDL 