| Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi hailed Sunday's voting in Iraq as confirmation that Iraqis want to defeat terrorism and establish democracy. This day "also belongs to us," added Berlusconi, whose government has staunchly supported U.S. President George W. Bush on Iraq. The conservative premier said that with the election, "the Iraqis today confirm their will to defeat terrorism and acquire freedom and democracy." Speaking of the US-led coalition of troops in Iraq, Berlusconi praised security efforts "not only by our soldiers but also those of all the pacifying forces of the other countries, in the first place, those of the United States who have paid and are paying the highest price in terms of human life." Earlier this month Italy suffered its latest military casualty in Iraq with the shooting death of a soldier on helicopter patrol. Italy has 3,000 troops in Iraq, one of the largest contingents after the Americans. |