Rome - Libyan leader Moammer Gaddafi on Wednesday arrived for his first official visit to Italy, an event described as "historic" by Italian government officials, but heavily criticized by human rights activists and opposition leaders.

Gaddafi, clad in a military uniform and wearing dark sunglasses, was warmly hugged by Italian Prime Minster Silvio Berlusconi at a red carpet ceremony at Rome's Ciampino military airport.

The Libyan leader who is accompanied by an entourage of some 300 people, then left the airport for a lunch meeting with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano at his official Quirinale Palace residence.

Berlusconi and Gaddafi were scheduled to meet again in the late afternoon for the signing of several bilateral accords and a joint news conference.

Gaddafi's three-day visit is taking place amid tight security in the Italian capital where several groups have said they plan protests.

Hundreds of police and soldiers have been deployed at the Villa Pamphili public park where the Libyan leader, who takes pride in his country's desert Bedouin origins, in customary style, is set to lodge in a tent.

Gaddafi's visit was made possible by a treaty signed in August 2008 which commits Italy to invest some 5 billion dollars in Libya as compensation for three decades of colonial rule over the North African nation.

But the agreement also contains a controversial pledge by Libya to help curb illegal immigration to Italy by ensuring that its shores are not used as a departure point for migrants seeking to cross the Mediterranean.

Human rights groups have denounced the conditions under which would-be migrants, mostly from other African nations, are kept in Libya.

Activists as well as United Nations and Vatican officials have also condemned recently introduced Italian government policy to immediately deport to Libya migrants intercepted in international waters.

Critics point out that such expulsions are done without determining whether the migrants are eligible to remain in Italy as political refugees and that Libya is not a signatory to international pacts offering protection to asylum seekers.

During his visit, Gaddafi is also scheduled to address the Italian Senate and plans to meet Italian business leaders.

Libya has expressed interest in expanding its investment in major Italian companies, including some that are suffering from the current global economic slump. Libya currently has a stake in Italy's second largest bank Unicredit and car giant Fiat.(dpa)