Silvio Berlusconi, Italy's prime minister, promised yesterday that his centre-right government would not unilaterally withdraw Italian troops from Iraq in spite of a disagreement with the US over how American forces in Baghdad killed an Italian intelligence agent.

"The withdrawal of our troops certainly won't be unilateral, but will be agreed with our allies," Mr Berlusconi told parliament in a speech that emphasised his desire to repair the damage the agent's death caused to US-Italian relations.