ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER ROMANO PRODI TOLD U.S. PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH ON SATURDAY THAT ITALY COULD PLAY A ROLE IN EASING THE MIDDLE EAST CRISIS, REUTERS REPORTED. PRODI, WHO WON AN APRIL ELECTION AGAINST CLOSE U.S.-ALLY SILVIO BERLUSCONI, SAID AHEAD OF THE G8 SUMMIT THAT BUSH HAD ACCEPTED HIS PLAN TO WITHDRAW TROOPS FROM IRAQ AND URGED ITALY TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT RECONSTRUCTION EFFORTS. BUSH SAID HIS MEETING WITH "ROMANO," THE FIRST SINCE PRODI RETURNED TO POWER, HAD BEEN VERY CORDIAL. THERE WAS NO SIGN OF TENSION OVER THE IRAQ WAR, WHICH PRODI OPPOSED. "I'VE KNOWN HIM FOR A LONG TIME," BUSH SAID OF THE FORMER EUROPEAN COMMISSION CHIEF AT THE MEETING WHERE HE CONGRATULATED PRODI FOR ITALY'S "MAGNIFICENT VICTORY" AT THE SOCCER WORLD CUP.
