Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini called Sunday for Libyan leader Moamer Gaddafi to step down, saying even that the developments in Libya were irreversible.
In remarks to the television broadcaster Sky Tg24, Frattini said it was now unavoidable for Gaddafi to step down.
The remarks came after Premier Silvio Berlusconi - a longtime friend of Gaddafi's - had said on Saturday that Gaddafi had lost control over his country.
Italy has long had close ties with Libya, but Frattini insisted that Rome's hands were not tied with regard to possible moves against the Libyan regime. He said the bilateral friendship treaty of 2008 had practically been suspended.