By Robin Pomeroy
Italy Rejects U.S. Version of Iraq Shooting
Sun Mar 6, 2005 17:35
64.140.158.35
Italy Rejects U.S. Version of Iraq Shooting
Mar 6, 2005 — By Robin Pomeroy
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=555233
ROME (Reuters) - Italian hostage Giuliana Sgrena, shot and wounded after being freed in Iraq, said Sunday U.S. forces may have deliberately targeted her because Washington opposed Italy's policy of dealing with kidnappers.
She offered no evidence for her claim, but the sentiment reflected growing anger in Italy over the conduct of the war, which has claimed more than 20 Italian lives, including the secret agent who rescued her moments before being killed.
Friday evening's killing of the agent and wounding of the journalist, who worked for a communist daily, has sparked tension with Italy's U.S. allies and put pressure on Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to take a hard line with President Bush.
The United States has promised a full investigation into incident, in which soldiers fired on the Italians' car as it approached Baghdad airport Friday evening.
The U.S. military says the car was speeding toward a checkpoint and ignored warning shots, an explanation denied by government ministers and the driver of the car.
Speaking from her hospital bed where she is being treated, Sgrena told Sky Italia TV it was possible the soldiers had targeted her because Washington opposes Italy's dealings with kidnappers that may include ransom payments.
"The United States doesn't approve of this (ransom) policy and so they try to stop it in any way possible."
According to Italy's leading daily Corriere della Sera, the driver, an unidentified Italian agent, said: "We were driving slowly, about 40-50 km/h (25-30 mph)."
In a harrowing account of her ordeal, Sgrena wrote in Sunday's Il Manifesto newspaper that the secret agent, Nicola Calipari, saved her life by shielding her with his body.
"Nicola threw himself on to protect me and then suddenly I heard his last breath as he died on top of me," she wrote.
PUNISHMENT, APOLOGY
Although Italy has denied paying kidnappers in past hostage releases, Agriculture Minister Gianni Alemanno told the Corriere that "very probably" a large ransom had been paid in this case.
Italian newspapers have speculated that anything up to 8 million euros ($10 million) may have been paid.
"We need to get the guilty punished and an apology from the Americans," Alemanno said. "We are trustworthy allies but we must not give the impression of being subordinates."
Italy's minister for parliamentary relations, Carlo Giovanardi, has also said he did not believe the U.S. version of events.
A national outpouring of grief and anger put pressure on Berlusconi, an ardent supporter of Bush and his war on terror, to get answers from Washington on what went wrong.
"All 57 million Italians who were united in the anticipation of Giuliana Sgrena's liberation have the right to know what happened," said Romano Prodi, the former prime minister and leader of Italy's center-left opposition.
Berlusconi summoned the U.S. ambassador immediately after the event and will need to present some answers from Washington when he addresses parliament Wednesday.
He led Italy into the conflict in Iraq where it has some 3,000 soldiers, a decision opposed by a majority of Italians and the opposition which is seeking to unseat him at a general election next year and weaken him at regional polls next month.
======================
[Excerpt: Ruling party member Raffaele Costa said Sunday that
parliament, which is due to debate an extention to the mission on March
14, should set a clear date for withdrawal.....
"It's time now that the responsible political forces define a way out
that everybody can agree on."....Communist leader Fausto Bertinotti said
withdrawal of the troops would be a "act of public health, of real and
political hygiene for our country".....While Sgrena's suspicion she may
have been a target for US firepower was not generally shared by Italy's
press Sunday, an indignant La Stampa said the US government had been
informed about her impending release....."And the presence of an
American colonel at Baghdad airport along with the Italian officers who
were waiting for Sgrena and her liberators, demonstrates that the
operation was being conducted in harmony," the newspaper said.]
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/050306/1/3r279.html
Monday March 7, 1:15 AM
Italian ex-hostage suggests she may have been US target
The Italian journalist wounded by US troops shortly after her month-long
kidnap ordeal ended, fanned a growing diplomatic rift between Rome and
Washington by suggesting the US soldiers deliberately tried to kill her.
Giuliana Sgrena, wounded when the convoy taking her to safety was
riddled by US fire near Baghdad airport on Friday, said she may have
been a target because the Americans opposed negotiations with her
kidnappers.
"Everyone knows that the Americans don't want hostages to be freed by
negotiations, and for that reason, I don't see why I should rule out
that I was their target," Sgrena told Sky Italia news channel on Sunday.
The comment comes amid fears that Friday's incident, in which Italy's
top intelligence officer in Iraq, Nicola Calipari, was killed, could
lead to a full-scale diplomatic rift between the two allies.
"The incident could have very serious political consequences," Italy's
La Stampa daily said in a front page editorial, adding that relations
between the two governments had "suffered an immediate deterioration"
Hour by hour, Washington's version of events was unravelling, the
Turin-based newspaper said.
The US military said their forces had given ample warning to the driver
of Sgrena's car, which they said was approaching at speed when they
opened fire, but Sgrena said they had not been travelling fast.
US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld called his Italian counterpart
Antonio Martino "to express the regret of the American administration
and his personal regret" over Calipari's death, Italy's defence ministry
said Sunday.
Washington has pledged a full inquiry into the incident and President
George W. Bush has personally expressed his regret over what happened.
Martino said he was sure that "the ongoing investigation will fully
clarify the circumstances which led to the tragic end of this incident".
Meanwhile, hundreds of mourners lined up outside the Vittoriano national
monument in central Rome to pay their respects to Calipari, whose body
was repatriated late Saturday.
The crowd -- many carrying flowers and waving Italian flags -- applauded
as his coffin was borne inside the monument where it was to lie in state
until a funeral with full military honours on Monday.
Italy's President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi hailed Calipari as a "hero" who
had used his body to shield Sgrena after the US patrol opened fire.
Sgrena was wounded in the shoulder and was being treated at a military
hospital in Rome.
Friday's incident is likely to rekindle debate in Italy over when to
withdraw Italy's 3,000 strong military contingent from Iraq, the key
condition laid down by Sgrena's kidnappers for her release.
Much of the country opposed the original decision by Prime Minister
Silvio Berlusconi in June 2003.
Ruling party member Raffaele Costa said Sunday that parliament, which is
due to debate an extention to the mission on March 14, should set a
clear date for withdrawal.
"It's time now that the responsible political forces define a way out
that everybody can agree on."
Communist leader Fausto Bertinotti said withdrawal of the troops would
be a "act of public health, of real and political hygiene for our
country".
While Sgrena's suspicion she may have been a target for US firepower was
not generally shared by Italy's press Sunday, an indignant La Stampa
said the US government had been informed about her impending release.
"And the presence of an American colonel at Baghdad airport along with
the Italian officers who were waiting for Sgrena and her liberators,
demonstrates that the operation was being conducted in harmony," the
newspaper said.
It said however that a ransom was "almost certainly" paid to the
kidnappers, even though any payment was "very probably" opposed by the
Americans.
Sgrena, a 56-year-old correspondent for the Italian communist daily Il
Manifesto, confirmed on Sunday that she had been voluntarily released by
her kidnappers, but said she had no knowledge of any ransom payment.
With most attention on the dramatic aftermath, little has been said
about the circumstances of her actual release. Sgrena's account in her
newspaper made it clear however that no force was involved, and that her
kidnappers drove her to an obviously pre-arranged handover point.
===========================
Mar 6, 2005 — By Robin Pomeroy
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=555233
ROME (Reuters) - Italian hostage Giuliana Sgrena, shot and wounded after being freed in Iraq, said Sunday U.S. forces may have deliberately targeted her because Washington opposed Italy's policy of dealing with kidnappers.
She offered no evidence for her claim, but the sentiment reflected growing anger in Italy over the conduct of the war, which has claimed more than 20 Italian lives, including the secret agent who rescued her moments before being killed.
Friday evening's killing of the agent and wounding of the journalist, who worked for a communist daily, has sparked tension with Italy's U.S. allies and put pressure on Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to take a hard line with President Bush.
The United States has promised a full investigation into incident, in which soldiers fired on the Italians' car as it approached Baghdad airport Friday evening.
The U.S. military says the car was speeding toward a checkpoint and ignored warning shots, an explanation denied by government ministers and the driver of the car.
Speaking from her hospital bed where she is being treated, Sgrena told Sky Italia TV it was possible the soldiers had targeted her because Washington opposes Italy's dealings with kidnappers that may include ransom payments.
"The United States doesn't approve of this (ransom) policy and so they try to stop it in any way possible."
According to Italy's leading daily Corriere della Sera, the driver, an unidentified Italian agent, said: "We were driving slowly, about 40-50 km/h (25-30 mph)."
In a harrowing account of her ordeal, Sgrena wrote in Sunday's Il Manifesto newspaper that the secret agent, Nicola Calipari, saved her life by shielding her with his body.
"Nicola threw himself on to protect me and then suddenly I heard his last breath as he died on top of me," she wrote.
PUNISHMENT, APOLOGY
Although Italy has denied paying kidnappers in past hostage releases, Agriculture Minister Gianni Alemanno told the Corriere that "very probably" a large ransom had been paid in this case.
Italian newspapers have speculated that anything up to 8 million euros ($10 million) may have been paid.
"We need to get the guilty punished and an apology from the Americans," Alemanno said. "We are trustworthy allies but we must not give the impression of being subordinates."
Italy's minister for parliamentary relations, Carlo Giovanardi, has also said he did not believe the U.S. version of events.
A national outpouring of grief and anger put pressure on Berlusconi, an ardent supporter of Bush and his war on terror, to get answers from Washington on what went wrong.
"All 57 million Italians who were united in the anticipation of Giuliana Sgrena's liberation have the right to know what happened," said Romano Prodi, the former prime minister and leader of Italy's center-left opposition.
Berlusconi summoned the U.S. ambassador immediately after the event and will need to present some answers from Washington when he addresses parliament Wednesday.
He led Italy into the conflict in Iraq where it has some 3,000 soldiers, a decision opposed by a majority of Italians and the opposition which is seeking to unseat him at a general election next year and weaken him at regional polls next month.
======================
[Excerpt: Ruling party member Raffaele Costa said Sunday that
parliament, which is due to debate an extention to the mission on March
14, should set a clear date for withdrawal.....
"It's time now that the responsible political forces define a way out
that everybody can agree on."....Communist leader Fausto Bertinotti said
withdrawal of the troops would be a "act of public health, of real and
political hygiene for our country".....While Sgrena's suspicion she may
have been a target for US firepower was not generally shared by Italy's
press Sunday, an indignant La Stampa said the US government had been
informed about her impending release....."And the presence of an
American colonel at Baghdad airport along with the Italian officers who
were waiting for Sgrena and her liberators, demonstrates that the
operation was being conducted in harmony," the newspaper said.]
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/050306/1/3r279.html
Monday March 7, 1:15 AM
Italian ex-hostage suggests she may have been US target
The Italian journalist wounded by US troops shortly after her month-long
kidnap ordeal ended, fanned a growing diplomatic rift between Rome and
Washington by suggesting the US soldiers deliberately tried to kill her.
Giuliana Sgrena, wounded when the convoy taking her to safety was
riddled by US fire near Baghdad airport on Friday, said she may have
been a target because the Americans opposed negotiations with her
kidnappers.
"Everyone knows that the Americans don't want hostages to be freed by
negotiations, and for that reason, I don't see why I should rule out
that I was their target," Sgrena told Sky Italia news channel on Sunday.
The comment comes amid fears that Friday's incident, in which Italy's
top intelligence officer in Iraq, Nicola Calipari, was killed, could
lead to a full-scale diplomatic rift between the two allies.
"The incident could have very serious political consequences," Italy's
La Stampa daily said in a front page editorial, adding that relations
between the two governments had "suffered an immediate deterioration"
Hour by hour, Washington's version of events was unravelling, the
Turin-based newspaper said.
The US military said their forces had given ample warning to the driver
of Sgrena's car, which they said was approaching at speed when they
opened fire, but Sgrena said they had not been travelling fast.
US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld called his Italian counterpart
Antonio Martino "to express the regret of the American administration
and his personal regret" over Calipari's death, Italy's defence ministry
said Sunday.
Washington has pledged a full inquiry into the incident and President
George W. Bush has personally expressed his regret over what happened.
Martino said he was sure that "the ongoing investigation will fully
clarify the circumstances which led to the tragic end of this incident".
Meanwhile, hundreds of mourners lined up outside the Vittoriano national
monument in central Rome to pay their respects to Calipari, whose body
was repatriated late Saturday.
The crowd -- many carrying flowers and waving Italian flags -- applauded
as his coffin was borne inside the monument where it was to lie in state
until a funeral with full military honours on Monday.
Italy's President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi hailed Calipari as a "hero" who
had used his body to shield Sgrena after the US patrol opened fire.
Sgrena was wounded in the shoulder and was being treated at a military
hospital in Rome.
Friday's incident is likely to rekindle debate in Italy over when to
withdraw Italy's 3,000 strong military contingent from Iraq, the key
condition laid down by Sgrena's kidnappers for her release.
Much of the country opposed the original decision by Prime Minister
Silvio Berlusconi in June 2003.
Ruling party member Raffaele Costa said Sunday that parliament, which is
due to debate an extention to the mission on March 14, should set a
clear date for withdrawal.
"It's time now that the responsible political forces define a way out
that everybody can agree on."
Communist leader Fausto Bertinotti said withdrawal of the troops would
be a "act of public health, of real and political hygiene for our
country".
While Sgrena's suspicion she may have been a target for US firepower was
not generally shared by Italy's press Sunday, an indignant La Stampa
said the US government had been informed about her impending release.
"And the presence of an American colonel at Baghdad airport along with
the Italian officers who were waiting for Sgrena and her liberators,
demonstrates that the operation was being conducted in harmony," the
newspaper said.
It said however that a ransom was "almost certainly" paid to the
kidnappers, even though any payment was "very probably" opposed by the
Americans.
Sgrena, a 56-year-old correspondent for the Italian communist daily Il
Manifesto, confirmed on Sunday that she had been voluntarily released by
her kidnappers, but said she had no knowledge of any ransom payment.
With most attention on the dramatic aftermath, little has been said
about the circumstances of her actual release. Sgrena's account in her
newspaper made it clear however that no force was involved, and that her
kidnappers drove her to an obviously pre-arranged handover point.
===========================
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