¡¡ROME, June 6 (Xinhuanet) -- US President George W. Bush left Rome Saturday after a two-day visit in Italy, aimed at finding "new opportunities" for boosting and deepening bilateral cooperation invarious fields.

    Bush arrived in Rome early Friday morning to take part in celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the capital's liberation by Allied forces from Nazi and Fascist rule.

    During his 36-hour stay, he held talks with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and met with President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi.

    Before Bush's arrival, Interior Minister Giuseppe Pisanu had repeatedly warned of the risk of premeditated acts of violence.

    Security was tightened in Rome as tens of thousands of demonstrators were expected to hold protests against the US-led Iraqi war and occupation, the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by US troops and the presence of Italian troops in post-war Iraq.     

    Police sources said about 300 potentially violent militants were planning to take part in demonstrations.

    Some 10,000 additional police officers were on duty during the visit and their deployment began on Thursday.

    Access to several roads in the city center was blocked and carsand mopeds were prevented from parking or stopping. Garbage cans and manholes in sensitive areas were also sealed.

    The air space over Rome was closed to private aircraft, while commercial flights at the capital's two main airports were briefly suspended during Bush's arrival on Friday and departure on Saturday.

    On Friday, nearly 100,000 anti-war protesters took to the streets of Rome in a predominantly peaceful protest against this visit.

    Those taking part in the main protest march gathered behind a huge banner saying "No War, No Bush," waving rainbow-colored peaceflags.

    Despite the protests, local media said Bush' visit had further strengthened the traditional "special ties" between the two counties.

    During their meeting, Berlusconi and Bush exchanged views on Iraqi affairs and cooperation between Italy and the United States.     

    The Italian government indicated that the country would enhancecooperation with the United States on Iraq's post-war reconstruction, urging the UN Security Council to pass a new resolution on Iraq as soon as possible.

    Speaking at a press conference after meeting with Bush, Berlusconi said he hoped the resolution would be approved next week.

    "Even though we are not in the Security Council, we were able to say our bit and to collaborate in the writing of a fresh resolution on Iraq," the prime minister added.

    He stressed that the Italian troops will remain in Iraq as longas necessary.

    "We will stay for as long as it is useful for establishing democracy and for as long as the Iraqi government asks us," he said.

    Responding to the opposition which has called for the withdrawal of Italian troops, Berlusconi said: "Pulling our troops out would be contrary to what must be done to avoid a civil war and allow the country to grow until it achieves democracy."

    He recalled America's sacrifices in World War II, insisting that Italy stand with the United States and keep its soldiers in Iraq.

    Bush, on his part, said Italy is one of "the closest allies in Europe" of the United States, and therefore he had chosen this country as the first stop of his European tour.

    He appealed to Europeans and Americans to join hands in fighting terrorism, saying that combating terror, like the missions in Iraq and in Afghanistan, "is a challenge of the era that we are in now."

    The international community has been convinced of the importance that a free Iraq will emerge in the Middle East region,confirming that the US troops will remain in Iraq to bring "a freeand democratic Iraq," he noted.

    At same time, Bush also expressed his confidence that the United Nations would soon adopt a new resolution on Iraq.

    "I am confident we will get one (a resolution) soon," he said.

    Bush said the new Iraqi government would enjoy "full sovereignty," adding that Berlusconi had requested assurances on this point during a meeting last month in Washington.

    "I assured him that this was our intention and that his concerns would be reflected in the new Security Council resolution," said the president.

    Bush thanked Italy for its contribution in Iraq and its help in drawing up the UN resolution.

    After the press conference, he left for France where he would hold talks with French President Jacques Chirac.

    On Sunday, Bush would be in Normandy to take part in celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the D-Day invasion.

    The president paid his visit in Rome when the security situation is becoming more and more unstable in Iraq, and the international community has called for a quicker handover of full sovereignty to the country.

    Meanwhile, the prisoners' abuse scandal, coupled with the recent death of a young Italian soldier and the kidnapping of three Italian security guards still being kept hostage, has further exacerbated feelings among Italians, the majority of whom were against the government's involvement in the Iraq crisis.

    A survey this month showed that more than 60 percent of them now want Italy's military contingent out of Iraq.

    The Italian government is facing enormous pressure from the opposition and anti-war pacifists. Under this situation, the Iraqi issue naturally topped the agenda of Berlusconi's talks with Bush.

    Berlusconi is a staunch ally of the United States and Italy hassent some 3,000 troops to post-war Iraq, the third largest contingent behind the United States and Britain. Enditem