Italy demands fast-track sovereignty in Iraq

Italy’s president called for the US-led coalition, the Iraqi Governing Council and the UN to help speed up the process of transferring sovereignty in Iraq to an Iraqi government.

Carlo Azeglio Ciampi held talks with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, one day after meeting in Washington with US President George W Bush.

About 2,300 Italian troops are helping in the reconstruction in Iraq.

On Wednesday, 19 Italians were killed in a bomb attack at the headquarters of the Italian Carabinieri paramilitary police in the southern city of Nasiriyah, but the government has said its troops will remain.