ROME - Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi says he won't step down, despite criticism over his handling of the country's financial crisis.
Berlusconi spoke Friday at a youth rally in Rome. He vowed to serve out his five-year-term, which ends in 2013.
Berlusconi's government faced mounting criticism as it struggled to determine what emergency measures to include in an austerity package. Berlusconi has also been dogged by sex scandals.
The package aims to reduce the country's deficit by more than C54 billion ($70 billion) over three years.
Berlusconi defended his record and said parliament's lower house would pass the austerity package next week. The Senate passed it this week.
