Mario Monti: Italy can take tough decisions

Italy's new leader, Mario Monti says there is no alternative to his sweeping programme of austerity measures, which include tax rises, spending cuts and pension reform.

Grave concern over Italy's finances have put the country on the front line of the crisis in the eurozone.

Mr Monti presented his proposals to the Italian parliament on Monday.

In his first televised interview, the new prime minister talked about his programme to the BBC's, Alan Johnston, who began by asking whether Mr Monti worried that Italy risked drifting into the same disastrous economic situation as Greece.