Italy's president on Sunday gave Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni a mandate to try to form the country's new government. 

The 62-year-old prime-minister designate is a key member of outgoing premier Matteo Renzi's Democratic Party. Renzi resigned on Wednesday after losing a referendum on constitutional reform on which he had staked his job. 

Gentiloni said he would try to form a new cabinet as soon as possible.

source: NNA