Rome, Aug 24 (IANS): Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi will meet Libyan rebel leader Mahmoud Jibril Thursday in Milan, the prime minister's office said in a statement.

How to protect the interests of Italian companies in Libya would be on top of the agenda of the meeting, Xinhua reported citing Ansa news agency.

The report said guidelines of the relations between the two countries would also be discussed.

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said that once a legitimate new government takes control of the whole of Libya, all trade agreements between Libya and other countries, including those with Italy, would be revived.

Berlusconi earlier enjoyed close ties with Gaddafi before the crisis hit the North African country. He was also opposed to participating in NATO air strikes against Gaddafi before he changed his mind in April.

Libyan rebels Tuesday captured Muammar Gaddafi's Bab al-Azizya compound in capital Tripoli after heavy fighting and looted an armoury inside the barracks. The whereabouts of Gaddafi and his sons was not known.