Italy president urges Rome-Cairo coordination on Libya

Italy's President Sergio Mattarella on Friday called for full coordination between Rome and Cairo on the situation in Libya.

In a meeting with Egypt's Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab, who is currently visiting here, Mattarella said such coordination between the two countries would help put an end to the current crisis in war-torn Libya.

Commenting on terror, the Italian leader said that Rome and Cairo are collectively fighting terrorism, pointing out that the attack on the Italian Consulate in Cairo further enhanced relations between Egypt and Italy.

He expressed thanks to the Egyptian government for its intention to renovate the targeted building of the consulate. The Italian president also appreciated Mahlab's visit to the site of the attack only one hour after the explosion.

Mattarella asserted that terrorist groups should be combated at the security and ideological levels, stressing his country's will to face Daesh and other terrorist groups.

He praised the Egyptian role, especially that of Al Azhar, in facing the misleading ideologies of terrorists.

Mahlab, for his part, conveyed greetings of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to the Italian president.

Mahlab arrived in Rome on Thursday coming from Milan as part of a three-day official visit to Italy at an invitation by his Italian counterpart.

Mahlab is accompanied by Egyptian Minister of Trade and Industry Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour, Petroleum Minister Sherief Ismail and Egypt's ambassador to Italy.