Mr Blair needs little excuse to strum

Now, according to Italian media reports which remain unconfirmed by No 10, the UK prime minister presented just such an instrument as a gift.

If the reports are true it was doubtless intended to soothe the supposedly hurt feelings of the love-song loving Italian premier.

Silvio Berlusconi was reportedly not very pleased about recent talks between Mr Blair, France's Jacques Chirac and Germany's Gerhard Schroeder, which took place ahead of this month's European summit.

The giving of gifts among heads of state, kings and chiefs is part of a centuries-old tradition which is still considered an important part of modern-day international relations Berlusconi's love-songs CD

The giving of gifts among heads of state, kings and chiefs is part of a centuries-old tradition which is still considered an important part of modern-day international relations.

While many presents are lavish, such as the million dollar oil painting presented to George W Bush by the Saudis, others are less so, such as Morocco's �2 jar of fish bait, also for the American president.

In fact Mr Bush has received a variety of interesting gifts from his counterparts across the globe.

Sponge bag

Russian President Vladimir Putin presented him with an elaborately detailed silver coffee urn with six matching cups and a platter.

Could a duet be on the cards?

The Italians came up with a �20,000 sculpture, while the United Arab Emirates gave him a �12,000 pen studded with rubies and diamonds in an American flag pattern.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai came bearing a �3,000 wool and silk rug.

Mr Blair's offering, however, was more personal and somewhat less expensive - a �216 sponge bag with the president's initials "GWB" embossed in gold on the top.

The UK prime minister's gifts to French President Jacques Chirac have ranged from a �300 fountain pen named after Winston Churchill for his 70th birthday, to a more sentimental photograph of his youngest son Leo.

Respectful gesture

For Mr Blair's 50th birthday last year, Mr Chirac sent six bottles of vintage claret, worth around �200 a bottle.

He also sent an expensive Saint-Louis crystal carafe to serve the wine from.

In the Middle East, heads of state give out gifts as an indication of their esteem for a particular person. The most common item is a gold watch with a personalised picture on the dial.

With Mr Blair being an old hand at the guitar, having played with student band the Ugly Rumours in his days at Oxford, Mr Berlusconi can be assured that the choice of gift shows a personal touch.