Berlusconi holds talks with Libyan leader

Tripoli: Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi visited Libya on Friday and held talks with the North African country's leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Berlusconi's office said the midday talks on Friday in the Libyan city of Sirte were followed by a lunch with Gaddafi. Berlusconi returned to Italy later yesterday.

Officials have given no details of the talks. But the meeting was expected to address illegal immigration. Libya is the point from which thousands of would-be immigrants set sail in efforts to reach Europe.

The Italian government have pressed Libya for years to step up patrol of its shores. According to Italian figures, about 16,500 illegal migrants believed to have departed from Libya reached Italian shores in 2007.