Italy's Renzi seeks key role for Russia

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said Thursday Russia could play a decisive role in resolving the crisis in Libya, during a rare visit by a European leader to Moscow.

Renzi held talks with President Vladimir Putin in a visit that also focused on the conflict in Ukraine and Russia's chilly relations with the European Union over its backing of separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine.

Then he raised one of his country's most pressing concerns with the Russian strongman: the chaos in Libya which has seen thousands of migrants flee to Italy and also sparked fears of a new stronghold for jihadists to launch attacks on Europe.

The TASS news agency quoted Renzi as calling for joint efforts to fend off "terrorism and religious fanaticism."

He said Russia's role in the UN Security Council and its relations with Egypt could provide crucial help in finding a solution to the Libyan crisis.

Putin said he supported UN mediation efforts and called for a peaceful resolution of the crisis in Libya, which has been wracked by conflict since the overthrow of dictator Moamer Kadhafi in a 2011 NATO-backed uprising.