By Matt Spetalnick and Robin Pomeroy
ROME (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush wonreassurances from his old ally Silvio Berlusconi on Thursdaythat Italy will help pressure Iran over its nuclear programmeand take more of a frontline military role in Afghanistan.
In a warm meeting that contrasted with the cool receptionBush got in the streets of Rome, including protests and chantsof "Bush, go home", the U.S. and Italian leaders agreed toratchet up the pressure on Iran over its nuclear programme.
The West fears Iran's uranium enrichment activities couldbe used to build a nuclear bomb. Iran says its programme isonly for power generation to meet the needs of its growingeconomy.
Bush stressed his preference for using diplomatic means butrepeated "all options are on the table", a refrain repeated inhis European tour to convince Iran that Washington willconsider military action to prevent it from obtaining a nuclearweapon.
At a joint news conference, Berlusconi reiterated Italy'soffer to join the group leading talks with Iran, formed by thefive permanent U.N. Security Council members plus Germany.
"I told Silvio I would seriously consider it," Bush said.
"I also made it clear however, that all of us, 'P5 plus 1'or not, need to be sending the same message to the Iranians,which is verifiably suspend your enrichment programme or elseyou will face further sanctions and further isolation," hesaid.
Berlusconi offered Bush Italy's expertise on Iran to helpin the negotiations, saying that Italy's extensive trade linkswith Iran meant "we know Iran very well from the inside".
Bush, on the third stop of a week-long farewell tour ofEurope, was also assured by Berlusconi, a supporter of the 2003U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, that Italy would relax a ban onusing its troops in a combat role in the NATO mission inAfghanistan.
MUTUAL APPRECIATION
Italy has about 2,700 troops in Afghanistan but has so far-- like France, Germany and Spain -- been reluctant to sendthem to the south and east where the Taliban are most active.This has caused tension with the NATO command and Washington.
Since coming to power in May, Berlusconi's government hastalked of "limited" deployment to combat zones but Bush said hewent further and talked of scrapping the so-called "caveat".
"I appreciate very much the fact that the governmentannounced to the parliament with your instructions, Mr PrimeMinister, that the caveats that have restricted your forces inAfghanistan have been removed ... ," said Bush.
The personal sympathy between the pair was evident in theirsmiles and hand clasping before their talks in Villa Madama, aRenaissance villa designed by Raphael for the Medici family.
The two leaders also share a clear preference for whoshould win November's U.S. election, between the young DemocratBarack Obama and veteran Republican senator John McCain.
"I can't avoid expressing my very personal preference forthe Republican candidate, because if he wins I would no longerbe the oldest," said Berlusconi, who looks younger than his 71years thanks partly to a hair transplant and cosmetic surgery.
"I was born on September 29, 1936 and he was born on August29, so he is a month older than me," said the Italian premier.
Bush visits the Vatican to meet Pope Benedict on Fridaybefore travelling to Paris, London and Northern Ireland.
(Additional reporting by Jeremy Pelofsky, Stephen Brown,Philip Pullella and Gavin Jones)
