The European Union (EU) is in favor of a greater role for the United Nations to play in Iraq's post-war reconstruction, European Commission President Romano Prodi said Sunday in central Italy's Bologna.

The European Commission supports the idea of greater involvement by the United Nations in rebuilding Iraq, Prodi said after talks with the UN special envoy on Iraq, Lakhdar Brahimi.

The recent upsurge of violence in Iraq shows it is necessary for the United Nations to play a clearer role in the country, Prodi said.

Brahimi briefed Prodi on the difficulties the United Nations faces in carrying out more operations in Iraq.

The two leaders discussed the proposals on the Iraq issue by the international community and the possible fallout of the kidnapping of foreigners in Iraq by Iraqi militants.

Both Prodi and Brahimi expressed concern over the escalating violence in the Middle East and agreed to push for the continued implementation of the Middle East roadmap peace plan, put forward by the Mideast Quartet, the United States, the United Nations, theEU and Russia.

Source: Xinhua