Cagliari, Sardinia - In a surprise result Tuesday, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's conservatives triumphed over Sardinia's centre-left governor and Tiscali internet company-founder, Renato Soru, in the island's regional elections.

With most of the ballots counted, Soru garnered 43 per cent compared to the centre-right candidate Ugo Cappellacci's 52 per cent.

In the weeks ahead of Sunday and Monday's voting, Berlusconi frequently appeared at rallies across Sardinia in a show of solidarity with the relatively unknown Cappellacci.

La Maddalena, Italy  - With its jagged cliffs and fjord-like coves, Italy's Maddalena Archipelago, in the Gallura region off the north-east coast of Sardinia, is like a Mediterranean version of Norway.

Designated a national park 15 years ago, the scattered seven main islands and numerous islets are alive with palm trees, small juniper and stone pine forests and gigantic oleander bushes. They also have wonderful beaches rimmed with bizarre rock formations.

Maddalena is the largest island and the only one inhabited year-round. At the moment, it is busy preparing to host the G8 summit of the leading industrialized nations in July. Ferries arrive at La Maddalena, the island's principal town, every half-hour from Palau, on Sardinia.

Rome  - David Beckham appears to have promptly recovered from a muscular injury suffered at the weekend and AC Milan included him in the lineup for a first-leg UEFA Cup game set for Wednesday at Werder Bremen.

The 33-year-old English midfielder left the pitch limping during the city derby that the Devils lost 2-1 to Inter Milan late Sunday.

Beckham in late December joined Milan from Los Angeles Galaxy on a loan deal that will end on March 8. Coach Carlo Ancelotti has made him a mainstay in Milan's midfield, which convinced England coach Fabio Capello to call him up for an international friendly last week.

Rome  - Juventus' Brazilian Amauri levelled the opener from Sampdoria's Giampaolo Pazzini for a 1-1 draw that pushed Juve to within six points of leaders Inter Milan, who play a late city derby with AC Milan.

Ten-man Genoa drew 3-3 against Fiorentina, who rallied from three goals down and retained the fourth available Champions League berth, which became harder to reach for Roma after a harsh 3-0 beating away to in-form Atalanta.

Rome  - Serie A top striker Marco Di Vaio levelled the score for Bologna late Saturday as the struggling guests held Napoli to a 1-1 draw.

The 32-year-old forward scored his 16th goal this season after Christian Maggio was on target for Napoli's short-lived lead in the first half.

The Naples side were the first to threaten with a close-range overhead volley from Ezequiel Lavezzi that goalkeeper Francesco Antonioli managed to block.

Rome - Struggling Serie A side Torino took home one point from Lazio Saturday, holding the Rome side to a 1-1 draw after taking a first-half lead.

Ignazio Abate, an international defender with Italy's youth team, livened up a dull first half at 36 minutes, drilling a smashing drive into the lower-left corner after seizing a short clearance from Ousmane Dabo.

The Rome hosts saw a first chance go begging at 44 minutes as defender Sebastiano Siviglia had his close-range shot blocked by goalkeeper Matteo Sereni with the tip of his boot.