Hero's death sparks fury at US
2005-03-08 08:09
Rome - Italy may have buried the hero of its most recent kidnap ordeal in Iraq, cut down by United States "friendly fire", but it has failed to lay to rest anger over his death.
"Today we paid homage to a valiant man, tomorrow we will renew our demand for justice," said former prime minister Massimo D'Alema, president of the largest opposition party.
D'Alema is one of many figures across the political spectrum calling on the United States for a full account of the incident.
The killing of Nicola Calipari, and the shadowy circumstances surrounding it, has heightened fears over a rising chorus of anti-Americanism on the Italian left, though Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and senior officials have rallied round his government's special relationship with Washington.
"The alliance with the United States is not up for debate, likewise our military commitment to Iraq," Berlusconi was quoted as saying by Italian media on Monday.
The opposition push for a reexamination of that relationship in Iraq was expected to broaden when the lower house of parliament hears a statement on the incident from Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini later Tuesday.
"All Italy demands that the United States give an account of what happened," said Deputy Prime Minister Marco Follini.
"It demands, and I underline the word, clear answers and will not content itself with vague responses."
US ambassador Mel Sembler had talks late on Monday at Berlusconi's offices with the prime minister and Fini, to provide a reconstruction of events, Italian media reported.
Calipari was killed in a hail of gunfire from a US patrol as he tried to shield rescued hostage Giuliana Sgrena while escorting her to Baghdad airport and a plane back to Italy.
Sgrena, who was wounded, has repeatedly suggested US forces may have deliberately tried to kill her because Washington strongly opposed Italy's tactics of negotiating with her kidnappers.
The White House, which has promised a full investigation into the shooting, dismissed the allegation Monday as "absurd".
Calipari, 51, was Rome's top intelligence officer in Iraq and the veteran of several such negotiations, which have allowed all but two Italians to return from Iraq alive.
Berlusconi's centre-right government is increasingly concerned it has become a soft touch for Iraq's cash-hungry kidnap gangs, particularly given reports it has paid ransoms in the past, despite official denials.
Sgrena was the ninth Italian to be kidnapped in Iraq, a disproportionate number compared to other coalition countries like Britain and the United States, which have fiercely opposed paying kidnappers.
Italian media reported on Monday that anywhere between $1m and $6m had been exchanged for Sgrena's release.