The announcement sparked a diplomatic scramble in Washington and London, with both US President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair seeking assurances there had been no change in Italian policy.

The US president phoned Berlusconi, who "reiterated to President Bush his wish to begin a gradual and progressive withdrawal of the Italian contingent in Iraq as quickly as possible, and if possible from September," Berlusconi's office said.

But the prime minister confirmed that the decision would depend on the ability of Iraq's police and military to ensure public order and the country's security.

Bush was more expansive. "He wanted me to know that there was no change in his policy, that in fact, any withdrawals would be done in consultation with allies and would be done, depending upon the ability of the Iraqis to defend themselves," he told a press conference.

"People want their troops home but they don't want their troops home if it affects the mission," he added.

Berlusconi told journalists in Rome late Wednesday that he would not act unilaterally.

"If it's not possible, it's not possible. Everything has to be agreed with the allies. We will do everything in a concerted manner," the prime minister responded when asked whether Italy would go ahead with a withdrawal without the consent of Washington and London.

Blair meanwhile assured the House of Commons there was no dates set for Britain or Italy to pull their troops out of Iraq, despite the apparently conflicting comments from his Italian counterpart.

"Neither the Italian government nor ourselves have set some deadline for withdrawal," Blair told parliament.

Berlusconi made the surprise announcement on Tuesday evening. He told a TV interviewer he had spoken with Blair and both had concluded that "public opinion in our countries is expecting this decision."

In London, Blair's spokesman -- under pressure to clarify those remarks -- responded Wednesday that the Italian leader had been "misinterpreted".

Italian soldiers are based in the relatively peaceful area of Nasiriyah in southern Iraq, which is under British command, and British military analysts believe London may have to bridge the gap.

Expanding on his television interview, Berlusconi said in an article for Italy's Il Foglio newspaper that the time was right for Italy to "begin to discuss ... the possibility of a gradual withdrawal" with the Iraqi government and other allies in the US-led military coalition.

In excerpts from the article released in advance, Berlusconi called the move "a natural political evolution" of his government's commitment in Iraq.

The head of the Italian opposition Romano Prodi accused Berlusconi of compromising Italy's "dignity" with his unclear statements on Iraq.

"You cannot nor should you play with the dignity of our country," the former head of the European Commission said.

"It's not possible that one evening you have a specific plan on the withdrawal of the troops and that 24 hours later, you backtrack because you've been called to order," Prodi said in a statement.

The surprise announcement is the latest in a series of blows to the US-led forces in Iraq as Europe's leaders look to massage public opinion polls ahead of elections, and raises questions about who would fill the gap.

Italy has been one of US President George W. Bush's closest allies in Iraq, where it is the fourth biggest troop contributor with a contingent of some

Berlusconi's message comes two weeks ahead of important regional elections in Italy, and seems timed to bolster his Forza Italia party's standing in the opinion polls, which has been sliding since his election in 2001.

It also follows an outcry over the accidental killing by US forces of an Italian intelligence agent saving an Italian hostage in Iraq, which further galvanized opposition to the deployment.

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