"Israel is under siege"

Rome, 4 June (AKI) - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said on Wednesday Israel was 'under siege' over what it perceived to be Iran's intention to pursue nuclear weapons.

"We must realise that Israel feels under siege at the moment," said Berlusconi, when asked if negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians on the Gaza Strip were possible.

"The threats, coming from a leader that seems to have the intention of pursuing nuclear weapons, cause distress to a government and its people," he said, making clear reference to Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Berlusconi was speaking at a joint media conference with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, after a bilateral meeting between the leaders in the Italian capital Rome.