Bush thanked Berlusconi "for his strong leadership in showing his support for the United States and the coalition," Fleischer told reporters.

Berlusconi, a staunch backer of the US-led war, recently said Italy is ready to send peacekeeping troops to quell anarchy and any sectarian violence Iraq in the wake of the collapse of Saddam Hussein's regime.

"Italy is ready to send a peacekeeping contingent to Iraq after parliamentary approval," Berlusconi told reporters during a local election tour in Pescara, Italy.

"I'm very glad the war is over," he added.

Berlusconi predicted a post-Saddam Iraq in two phases: "The first will be the withdrawal of the allies, the second will be the involvement of the international institutions."

"One must remember that there is an absolute power vacuum (in Iraq) and that people are very frightened by the possibility of revenge."

SPACE.WIRE