Italy PM says wants troops out of Afghanistan soon

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Italy wants to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan "as soon as possible" but will not take the decision unilaterally, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said on Thursday.

"We are all anxious and hopeful to bring our boys home as soon as possible," Berlusconi told reporters in Brussels after six Italian troops were killed by a suicide car bomber in Kabul.

"We are all convinced that it's better for everyone to leave Afghanistan soon," he said.

He said Italy was already planning a "strong reduction" in its approximately 3,100 troops in Afghanistan, and would proceed in that direction.