Italy has launched a diplomatic push at the United Nations for a worldwide moratorium on the death penalty, following a wave of denunciations across Europe over Saddam Hussein's execution.

In New York, Italy's ambassador to the UN met with the head of mission for Russia, which currently holds the UN Security Council presidency, to explain its determination to have the issue taken up by the UN General Assembly, the Italian Foreign Ministry said.

Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi's office said Italy would seek the support of other countries that oppose capital punishment in its drive.

Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema said his country would work for the end of the death penalty worldwide following denunciations across Europe of Saddam's hanging.

Past lobbying by Italy for UN action against the death penalty has been unsuccessful.

Italy is now one of the rotating members of the UN Security Council.

Saddam's execution by hanging on Saturday was denounced virtually across Italy's political spectrum, with former premier and conservative opposition leader Silvio Berlusconi calling the killing a political error and centre-left leader Prodi expressing worry that the execution will fuel more violence in Iraq.

Italy and all other European Union countries do not permit capital punishment.

The Foreign Ministry said Italy had asked Germany, which now holds the rotating EU presidency, to hold a discussion on the death penalty during an EU political meeting on January 11-12 in Dresden, Germany.