Riyadh - The Italian ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Mr Torquato Cardeilli, has converted to Islam. Mr Cardeilli (59), an Arabic speaker, is the first ambassador to convert to Islam in Saudi Arabia.
Sheikh Nouh bin Nasser's office said the Italian converted on November 15th, the day before the start of Ramadan.
In September, the Italian Prime Minister, Mr Silvio Berlusconi, sparked outrage across the Arab and Muslim world with remarks on the West's "superiority" over Islam.