Islamabad: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has claimed Italy's support in its opposition to the expansion of UN Security Council (UNSC), being strongly pressed for by India, Germany, Japan and Brazil.

"The two countries were in total consonance on the issue of expansion of the UN Security Council. We will be against any attempt to violate the basic tenet of democratic norms of sovereign equality of nations," Musharraf told reporters in Rome yesterday (Sep 28, 2004) after his meeting with Italian President Carlo Azerglio Ciampi.

He said Pakistan was against creation of more centres of privileges in the Security Council in violation of norms of sovereign equality of nations.

"Therefore, we will be against any increase in nations having special privileges and being more equal than others," he was quoted as saying by the State media in Islamabad.

Musharraf arrived in Italy yesterday on a three-day visit.

Italian President Ciampi did not make any direct reference to the campaign for the expansion of the UNSC permanent members seats by India and other countries.

He said both Pakistan and Italy envisaged a reform that would enable the United Nations to more effectively perform under its current charter, ie, to respond to any threats to collective security and address the problems of underdevelopment.

Ciampi also warned that ignoring international law could lead to serious consequences and called for reforming the United Nations to respond to threats of collective security.