Italy: U.S. Must Take Responsibility for Iraq Death
09.03.2005, 20:21
ROME (Reuters) - The United States must assume responsibility for the "friendly fire" killing of an Italian intelligence agent in Iraq in order to put the incident behind the two allies, the Italian prime minister said on Wednesday.
ROME (Reuters) - The United States must assume responsibility for the "friendly fire" killing of an Italian intelligence agent in Iraq in order to put the incident behind the two allies, the Italian prime minister said on Wednesday.
"Only a frank and reciprocal recognition of eventual responsibility is the condition for closure of the incident which was so irrational and that caused so much sorrow," Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi told the Senate.
The Italian leader welcomed an offer from the United States to hold a joint investigation of last Friday's shooting outside the Baghdad airport. Agent Nicola Calipari was shot dead as he was taking freed hostage Giuliana Sgrena to safety.
"Our friendship with the United States is strong and loyal, and we have the duty to demand from them the utmost truth," Berlusconi said, winning a standing ovation from all political parties at the end of his speech.
President Bush has promised Italy a "fast and thorough" joint investigation into the killing of Calipari.