Qathafi calls on Berliskony to open an Italian- Libyan gas pipeline

Tripoli announced yesterday it had extended an official invitation to the Italian prime minister Silvio Berliskony to take part in the inauguration ceremony due today of a gas transport pipeline from Libya to Italy.

The Libyan official news agency said that the Libyan leader Muammar al-Qathafi extended in a telephone call the invitation to Berliskony to take part in the celebration. Berliskony stressed his participation in inaugurating the line in Mleita city to the west of Libya.

The pipeline which was completed at the participation of the two Italian Eini and Jib Groups -- links Libya to Cecily region in Italy and the cost of the project is $ 5.6 billion.

This invitation from Libya comes at a time when Rome calls on the Libyan authorities to work for preventing the flow of refugees from the Libyan coasts to the Italian territories.

Italy was exposed to criticism on Monday over re-evacuating emigrants who were intending to ask asylum without giving them enough time to apply for getting the status of asylum.