ROME (Reuters) - Italy's foreign minister said on Tuesday the killing of an Italian intelligence agent in Iraq by U.S. forces had been a tragic accident, but added that Rome did not believe the U.S. military's version of events. Agent Nicola Calipari has been hailed as a hero in Italy after he died last Friday while shielding a newly-freed Italian hostage from U.S. gunfire as they were approaching Baghdad airport in a car.
Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini told parliament that assertions by the U.S. military that the Italians had been speeding and had failed to heed a warning to stop did not tally with information he had received.
He called on the U.S. military to investigate the shooting fully and punish any soldiers found guilty of wrong-doing.
