Italy "fully" supports a new U.N. Security Council resolution on Libya to stop Moammar Gadhafi's attacks on rebels and civilians, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said here Thursday.

He also said the international community was considering organizing "as soon as possible" a meeting, possibly a summit, of the European Union, the African Union and the Arab League.

Such a meeting would focus on reaching a "comprehensive agreement in order to make it possible to stop violence... to take further measures, including a no-fly zone to protect the population," Frattini said.

"We appreciate positions taken by the Arab League and the initiative (by) the group of African leaders that would pass the message to Mr Gadhafi to leave," Frattini said.

France, Britain and Lebanon have tabled a draft United Nations resolution "broadening the scope of sanctions and opening the path for using the necessary means to stop Gadhafi's offensive," the French foreign ministry said earlier.

Italy--Libya's former colonial ruler and top trade partner -- has been diplomatically cautious on Libya but has voted in favor of sanctions against Gadhafi's regime in line with the rest of the international community.

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