UPDATE 1-Italy poised to curtail foreign takeovers

ROME, March 23 (Reuters) - The Italian government approved measures on Wednesday that would restrict foreign takeovers of companies in the food, energy, defence and telecoms sectors, a government source said. The restrictions, first mooted by Economy Minister Giulio Tremonti last week, would be based on a principle of reciprocity, allowing target companies to use similar defences to those allowed in the country of the buyer, the source said.