Photo: Seif Al-Islam Al-Qathafi

Italian foreign minister Franco Frattini said the Leader of the Revolution Muammar Al-Qathafi would be welcome to visit Italy where he would be received as a friend.

"If the leader of the Libyan revolution desires to visit Italy we will greet him with friendship, as one would with a friend," Frattini was quoted as saying by the ANSA news agency.

The Italian foreign minister, made the remarks on the margins of a conference in Rome examining a friendship agreement signed in August by Leader of the Revolution Muammar Al-Qathafi and Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, in Benghazi.

Italy's parliament would 'shortly' ratify the agreement, Frattini told delegates at the conference which included Seif Al-Islam Al-Qathafi and Secretary of Foreign Lisiaon Abdelrahman Shalgam.

"Libya is a reliable country and is now recognized as such by the international community. It is also an exceptional partner for Italy," Frattini said.

For his part, Seif al-Islam said he hoped to see co-operation between Rome and Tripoli extend to the military field.

"We would like to see Italian and Libyan military forces participate in joint manoeuvres as well as the Italian and Libyan navy carrying out joint patrols,' to combat illegal immigration, Seif al-Islam Gaddafi was quoted as saying by ANSA.