Ministers have been summoned to a cabinet meeting at 9.00 p.m. (2000 GMT) with no explanation given for the unexpected call up.

The European Central Bank (ECB) last week selected three commissioners to try to save the Genoa-based bank after the Malacalza family, Carige's biggest stakeholder, blocked a share issue that was part of an industry-financed scheme to stave off a collapse.

(Reporting by Giuseppe Fonte; Editing by Crispian Balmer)