Italy, NATO discuss reducing Afghan caveats

ROME (Reuters) - NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer met Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Thursday to discuss a possible reduction of restrictions on troop movement in Afghanistan, a NATO spokesman said.

Italy has about 2,700 troops in Afghanistan on peacekeeping and humanitarian duties in the Kabul and Herat regions. They operate under a "caveat" that rules out NATO using them in the more violent south or in front-line combat roles.

But Berlusconi's new conservative government has signaled that it will be more flexible on rules of engagement for its troops in Afghanistan.

"The Secretary-General welcomed the discussions within Italy to reduce the caveats," NATO spokesman James Appathurai said.

"It seems that Italy is considering reducing restrictions on the movements of their troops within Afghanistan."

Berlusconi and Scheffer also discussed the need for "continued engagement" with Russia despite the difficulties that exist with Russia and the West on a number of issues, he said.

(Reporting by Phil Stewart)