Iraqi president to meet Berlusconi

Iraqi president Jalal Talabani is to hold talks in Rome this afternoon with Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, a strong supporter of the war in Iraq.

Talabani is on a week-long visit to Italy, which includes talks with the country’s top officials and a meeting at the Vatican with Pope Benedict XVI.

Today, the Iraqi president is also due to meet Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini and opposition leaders.

Berlusconi, a staunch ally of US President George Bush, defied strong domestic opposition to the war and sent about 3,000 troops to Iraq after the removal from power of Saddam Hussein in 2003. Italy is now gradually pulling out its contingent.

In comments published by an Italian daily this week, Talabani said a premature withdrawal of Italian troops from his country would be catastrophic and that the presence of multinational forces in Iraq was vital.