Italy to grant asylum to Afghani who converted

Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi said Wednesday that Italy would be happy to give asylum to the "courageous" Afghan man who faced the death penalty for converting from Islam to Christianity. "I say that we are very glad to be able to welcome someone who has been so courageous," Berlusconi said, when asked by Associated Press Television News about the possibility of asylum for the man. The premier spoke ahead of a Cabinet meeting in which the government was widely expected to grant asylum.