Prodi asks Iran to help solve West Asia crisis

ST PETERSBURG, Russia, July 16 (Reuters) Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi telephoned Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani today to urge Tehran to take an ''active role'' in diplomatic moves to solve the crisis in the West Asia.

An Italian government source said the Iranian had not given an immediate response but would respond ''in the coming days''.

REUTERS SI PM2227