Several commentators accused Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of sacrificing principles and dignity for the sake of trade and investment ties with Libya.

"What would happen if a European head of state went to Libya or another Islamic country and invited everyone to convert to Christianity?" asked the daily Il Messagero. "We believe it would provoke very strong reactions across the Islamic world."

Press reports said three women had converted, but there was no way to verify if that was true. The event, due to be repeated on Monday, followed a similar reception involving some 200 women on a previous visit by Gaddafi to Rome last year.

Ties between Italy and Libya have flourished since a 2008 deal in which Berlusconi agreed to pay $5 billion in reparations for Italy's colonial rule over Libya in the early 20th century.

Italy is now Libya's biggest trading partner and buys much of its oil and gas from the energy-rich North African state. Libya is also a big investor in the Italian economy.

But many commentators were not happy.