The Italian government lowered its growth forecast sharply on Thursday, while insisting that the austerity plan adopted last week is sufficient to balance the country\'s budget by 2013 as planned. Italy now forecasts a 0.7 percent growth in 2011, 0.6 percent in 2012 and 0.9 percent in 2013, compared to previous forecasts in April of 1.1 percent, 1.3 percent and 1.5 percent, the finance ministry said.