Italy, US differ on agent’s death

Italy and the United States say they have failed to fully agree on the circumstances surrounding the killing of an Italian intelligence agent by US soldiers in Iraq.

Calipari was shot dead by US soldiers in Iraq

The two governments issued a joint statement on the investigation into the 4 March death of agent Nicola Calipari, who was killed after securing the release of Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena from her Iraqi captors.

US soldiers fired on the Italians’ vehicle as it approached a checkpoint near Baghdad’s airport.

In the statement on Friday, the two countries said the investigation into the shooting had been concluded.

“The investigators were unable to reach shared final conclusions, but after having jointly examined the evidence, they did agree on facts, deductions and numerous problematic recommendations,” the statement said.

Differing accounts 

The statement said the two countries would now refer the case to their respective national authorities. Italy has launched its own criminal inquiry into the death.

Secret service officer Calipari had secured Sgrena's release
Secret service officer Calipari had secured Sgrena’s release

Secret service officer Calipari
 had secured Sgrena’s release

Italy and the US had worked for a month on the joint investigation in the killing, which sparked outrage in Italy and put increasing pressure on Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to withdraw Italy’s estimated 3000-strong contingent from the country.

But from the start, testimony from the two survivors of the shooting clashed with the US military’s account.

The Americans maintain that soldiers fired warning shots in the air, then shot at the engine block because the car was speeding.

Sgrena and another intelligence agent who was driving the car, insist they saw the beam of a warning light virtually at the same time gunfire broke out.

National dignity

The agent has also testified he was driving slowly.

“Out of a dutiful homage to Calipari, and out of an indispensable national dignity that a government must have, the Italian government could not have been asked to sign off on reconstruction of the facts that as far as we know does not correspond to what happened that night,” Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini said after the statement was released.

US soldiers fired on the car on the Baghdad airport road 
US soldiers fired on the car on the Baghdad airport road 

US soldiers fired on the car on
the Baghdad airport road 

The incident strained relations between the two allies, and Berlusconi made clear as recently as on Thursday that he would not sign on any joint finding unless Italy was convinced of the conclusions.

However, the statement tried to smooth over the differences.

“The alliance between Italy and the United States remains firm and there is a strong and solid friendship between the two countries based on shared values,” the statement said.

“Such values require us to remain by the side of the Iraqi people … to contribute to the reconstruction of a stable, democratic and safe Iraq.”

Unpopular war

Calipari, hailed at home as a hero, died while trying to shield Sgrena from the gunfire.

In the statement, the two countries called Calipari an “extraordinary man” who gave his life for Italy and was “an esteemed friend of the United States”.

Berlusconi had put his government’s prestige on the line with assurances to the nation that full light would be shed on the shooting. The war in Iraq was highly unpopular among Italians, who also opposed the deployment of their country’s troops in Iraq.

Pressure on his coalition grew after news reports suggested the final report into the killing would exonerate the US soldiers.

Source: News Agencies