A report today from the AP says: The Italian government approved a measure letting the Treasury Ministry reduce its majority stake in Alitalia, another step toward the airline company’s privatization. The ministry owns 62 percent of the flagship carrier, while employees control most of the rest. Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said in September that he was ready to sell shares in Alitalia, but infighting within his center-right coalition had delayed approval of the measure.