(ROME) - The government may lend struggling Italian flag carrier Alitalia 100 to 150 million euros (160-238 million dollars) to give it more time to find a partner after talks broke down with Air France-KLM, reports said Friday.

Dailies Il Sole 24 Ore and Corriere della Sera said the loan, at market rates, could be approved as early as next week.

On Thursday, prime minister-elect Silvio Berlusconi and the outgoing government said they would try to agree a common approach in order to save Alitalia from bankruptcy.

On Wednesday, Berlusconi, mooted a return to the table with Air France-KLM but only if a deal could be reached that would accord "equal status among the three airlines."

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