Berlusconi promises rival Alitalia bidder in days

VITERBO, Italy (Reuters) - Italy's Silvio Berlusconi on Wednesday promised a group of "important businessmen" seeking to buy Alitalia would reveal themselves within days, in a bid to thwart the carrier's deal to be taken over by Air France-KLM (AIRF.PA: Quote, Profile, Research).

Berlusconi has sent Alitalia shares soaring over the past week by raising the prospect of a rival Italian bid to counter the Franco-Dutch carrier's deal, but has provided few details.

He said the rival group was seeking three or four weeks to make their offer.

(Reporting by Valentina Rusconi)