Olbia, Sardinia  - Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived Thursday afternoon in Sardinia where he was greeted at the airport by Italian prime minister-elect, Silvio Berlusconi, his host during an overnight stopover.

Putin, who is close friends with Berlusconi, was scheduled to stay at the Italian billionaire-turned-politician's luxury Villa Certosa on the Mediterranean island.

The Russian leader flew in from Tripoli where he held talks with Libyan President Moammer Gaddafi about the idea of building an organization of major natural gas producers.

Putin who began his visit to Libya on Wednesday - one of his final foreign trips before the end of his presidential term on May 7 - discussed Moscow's intentions to strengthen cooperation with Tripoli in economic, scientific and oil and gas projects.

Russia's natural gas company Gazprom unveiled plans last week for joint gas projects in Libya with Italy's Eni.

Berlusconi, who triumphed in Italy's general elections held earlier this week, said he and Putin would discuss bilateral economic ties between Russia and Italy, during the Russian leader's stay in Sardinia.

The two leaders were scheduled to speak at a news conference at Villa Certosa on Friday morning, before Putin's planned return to Moscow.(dpa)