Bush to press Italy on Iran and Afghanistan

By Matt Spetalnick and Stephen Brown

ROME (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush will urge Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi as an old ally on Thursday to take a tougher stand over Iran's nuclear programme and expand Italy's military role in Afghanistan.

Bush, on the third stop of a week-long farewell tour of European capitals, can expect a warm welcome from Berlusconi, a fellow conservative back in office this year as Italy's prime minister for a third time.

But beyond the smiles and handshakes, Bush will be looking for concrete signs that Berlusconi, whose previous government supported the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, is bringing Italy's foreign policy back closer in line with Washington's.

Bush has limited leverage, however, to get European partners to further isolate Tehran and boost troop levels in Afghanistan.

Europeans are increasingly looking past him to his successor who will be chosen in the November U.S. presidential election.

Berlusconi's admiration for Bush runs counter to public sentiment in Europe where he is widely reviled for the Iraq war.

While Berlusconi and Pope Benedict prepared to roll out the red carpet for Bush over the next two days, about a thousand leftists and anti-war activists staged a peaceful protest in the centre of Rome after his arrival on Wednesday.

Bush's bid to ratchet up pressure on Iran over its nuclear programme is expected to be high on the agenda with Berlusconi, as it has been since the start of his European trip on Monday.