Italy questions US finding
2005-04-25 23:07
Washington - A United States military investigation has concluded that soldiers who killed an Italian intelligence agent and wounded a freed hostage at a checkpoint in Iraq last month were "not culpable", but Italy had not accepted the findings, said an army official on Monday.
"The United States is ready to release the report, but Italy has more questions," said the official, who wanted to remain anonymous.
He said the US and Italian sides were in disagreement about the speed at which the vehicle carrying the Italians approached the US-manned checkpoint, and about the communications between the Italian and American officials before the shooting.
US soldiers opened fire on a speeding convoy taking freed Italian hostage Giuliana Sgrena to Baghdad airport in March.
Secret service officer Nicola Calipari died trying to protect Sgrena.
- AFP