Blair says Anglo-Italian relations are as strong as ever

The UK prime minister was speaking just days after terror attacks in Baghdad and Karbala left scores dead.

He said coalition forces, which include Italy, should "stick at it, stay in there and see the job done".

At a joint news conference Mr Blair insisted Anglo-Italian relations were as strong as ever.

Mr Berlusconi was reportedly upset over a recent summit in Berlin between Germany, France and Britain.

The three leaders called for the appointment of a powerful new figure in the European Commission to co-ordinate economic and social policy in the EU.

World security

Mr Berlusconi said last month Italy would say "No" to any proposal reached by them without Italy's involvement.

At the news conference, Mr Blair chose instead to focus on Iraq.

We are trying to work with the Iraqi people to put the country on its feet Tony Blair

"We are doing everything we can but I think we should be really clear about what's happening in Iraq today because it is of fundamental importance to the future security of the world," he said.

"Even if they disagreed with the war, people should understand what's happening in Iraq today.

"We are trying to work with the Iraqi people to put the country on its feet.

"The struggle that's happening is a struggle that literally will be of fundamental importance to the future of the Middle East and to the future of the world."

Civil war suggestion rejected

Mr Blair was asked if the timetable for power to be handed over to the Iraqis in the summer had been knocked off course by the terror attacks.

The meeting between the 'big three' last month upset other nations

He said: "I think we can stick to that timetable for the handover of power, but this is a discussion that's happening with, obviously, the United Nations representatives as well."

He rejected suggestions Iraq was on the brink of civil war.

"A civil war is two parts of a country in hostility to one another," he said.

"This isn't what's happening in Iraq. The vast majority of people there want to work together.

"There's no reason why they can't make this political progress."

Rotating presidency

At the Rome meeting, the two leaders agreed to write jointly to Irish premier Bertie Ahern stressing the need for more economic reform in Europe.

Ireland currently holds the rotating EU presidency.

Britain is determined that economic issues should be pushed to the top of the agenda for the EU summit later this month following the collapse of negotiations on a European constitution.

The UK prime minister is a regular visitor to fellow EU leaders ahead of routine European summits in preparation for enlargement of the union from 15 countries to 25 in May.

Mr Blair has insisted that meetings such as his one in Italy do not represent attempts by the larger EU members to "stitch up" European summits at the expense of smaller nations.