TEHRAN Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned Italian Ambassador to Tehran Riccardo Sessa to comment on a report carried by the Italian news agency ANSA which quoted Berlusconi as saying that "Western countries must bring countries without democratic leadership like Iran under control."

Sessa on Thursday disclaimed as utter lies the alleged remarks by Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi that said Iran is as undemocratic.

Sessa told the Iranian Foreign Ministry that Mr. Berlusconi had by no means made any remarks against Iran in his address to the Italian Parliament.

"In his speech, the Italian prime minister had given no word on Iran and the reports carried by the Italian news agency are mere lies," he added.

Berlusconi had allegedly raised the anti-Iran statements Wednesday when he said Italy is offering to host a Group of Eight (G8) summit to discuss ways to fight terrorism.

Italy is currently host of the G-8 which also includes the world's other most industrialized countries, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Russia and the United States.