Censored parts of US report on Italian agent's death deepen dispute
AFP, May, 2005
ROME (AFP) — Censored parts of a US military report on the shooting of an Italian intelligence officer in Baghdad have disclosed that US forces had communication problems at the time, an Italian newspaper reported.
If confirmed, the report would deepen a dispute between Rome and Washington as Italy prepares to produce its own account later Monday of the circumstances behind the fatal shooting.
The censored 42-page report by the US military cleared troops who shot and killed Nicola Calipari, 51, as he shepherded a freed Italian hostage to Baghdad airport on March 4.
Italy and the US conducted a joint investigation into the affair but could not reach agreement on its conclusions.
The US version, published Saturday, exonerated US forces over the incident, which occurred shortly after Calipari had helped free journalist Guiliana Sgrena, and has caused a deep rift between Washington and Rome, one of the chief ...
