ROME, Dec 10 (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti on Monday played down market fears over his decision to resign, saying there was no danger of a vacuum ahead of an election in the spring.

'Markets should not fear a vacuum of decision making in Italy,' he told a press conference in Oslo where he attended the Nobel peace prize ceremony.

Monti, who said the elections would produce a responsible government, warned of the danger of populism during the campaign, which will be contested by the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement and former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who has attacked Monti's policies and criticised German power in the euro zone.

(Reporting by Naomi O'Leary; editing by Barry Moody) Keywords: ITALY MONTI/

(naomi.oleary@thomsonreuters.com)(+39 06 8522 4392)(Reuters Messaging: naomi.oleary.reuters.com@reuters.net)

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