Karzai leaves for Italy

KABUL): Afghan President Hamid Karzai left for Rome to attend the 150^th anniversary of Italian Unification, the Presidential Palace in Kabul said on Wednesday.

Dozens of world leaders, including US and Russian presidents and hundreds of other top officials from all over the world, would participate in the celebration in Rome on Thursday.

Karzai travelled to Rome in response to an official invitation from Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. The two leaders are expected to discuss bilateral cooperation and issues of mutual interest.

After the meeting, foreign ministers of the two countries will sign an agreement on strengthening cooperation. Karzai is being accompanied by his ministers of foreign affairs and finance and his spokesman.

myn/mud