Kabul, July 18, SPA -- President Hamid Karzai on Monday left for a visit to Britain and Italy to discuss Afghanistan's economic development and other issues with the two important allies. Karzai is heading a ministerial delegation on the week-longtrip, which will include talks with British Prime MinisterTony Blair and an audience with Britain's Queen ElizabethII and Prince Charles, said government spokesman RafiullahMujaddedi. Traveling with Karzai were senior government advisers andministers, including Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah andInterior Minister Ali Ahmad Jalali, he said. During a two-day stop in London, Karzai will meet withBritish Defense Secretary John Reid and other seniorofficials. Talks are expected to focus on Britishassistance for Afghanistan and future business cooperationbetween the two countries. An increase in Taliban-led rebel violence that has leftmore than 700 dead since March is also likely to be on theagenda. U.S. and Afghan officials have warned that thebloodshed threatens crucial legislative elections inSeptember. Karzai is also expected to attend a gathering of Afghansliving in the British capital, which is still reeling fromterrorist bombings on its public transit system on July 7. The Afghan delegation will then travel to Italy to meetits leaders, Mujaddedi said without giving details. Mujaddedi declined to say exactly when the delegationwould return to Afghanistan, citing security concerns, butadded that the trip would last about a week. Britain and Italy have provided important financial,humanitarian and military support for Karzai's government, according to a report of The Associated Press.--SPA1336 Local Time 1036 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/277567