Gaddafi visits Italy for first time as ties improve

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi began his first visit to Italy today with a warm embrace from prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, evidence of better ties between the energy-rich desert nation and its former colonial ruler.

Gaddafi’s four-day visit is packed with speeches, including the rare honour of addressing the Italian Senate, and an appearance at Rome’s centuries-old Sapienza University. He also agreed to meet some of the 20,000 Italians he kicked out in 1970 to punish Rome for its 1911-1941 colonisation.