ROME - Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi paid an unexpected visit on Wednesday to the presidential palace for talks with the head of state, witnesses said.

The talks, which lasted about 30 minutes, fuelled speculation that Prodi might have decided to resign.

However, in a statement confirming the meeting, the presidential palace gave no details, an indication that Prodi had not stepped down so far.

Prodi faces two confidence votes in parliament that will determine the survival of his centre-left government after the defection of an ally erased his Senate majority.