U.S., Italy Fail to Agree On Agent's Death in Iraq

ROME, April 29 -- After a five-week joint investigation, U.S. and Italian officials announced Friday they had failed to reach agreement on the circumstances of the fatal shooting of an Italian intelligence agent by U.S. troops in Baghdad on March 5. The deadlock keeps alive a dispute that is undermining the standing of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, a key U.S. ally in Iraq.

Italian criminal investigators pressed forward Friday with their own investigation, which includes inspection of the bullet-damaged Toyota Corolla in which agent Nicola Calipari and journalist Giuliana Sgrena were riding when U.S. troops opened fire on them. Sgrena was wounded.

"Respect for the memory of Nicola Calipari, as well as for our national decorum, could only prevent the government of Italy from assenting to a reconstruction of the events that does not correspond with what happened that evening," Italy's foreign minister, Gianfranco Fini, told reporters.

U.S. officials have said that the car carrying Calipari and Sgrena sped toward a U.S. checkpoint in the dark and ignored warnings to stop. U.S. troops were not at fault in opening fire, the U.S. side contends. Sgrena has said the car was moving slowly and was given no chance to stop.

In Washington, officials declined to release the full American findings but said a report would probably be issued soon in Baghdad. Fini said the Italian version would be made public "within a few days."

Calipari, who Sgrena says threw himself over her to shield her from the bullets, has emerged as a national hero in Italy. There is intense public interest in the case.

Berlusconi's failure to obtain an admission of wrongdoing from the Americans has renewed criticism of him. He has stationed 3,000 troops in Iraq but has said he hopes to begin a withdrawal in September.

"The investigators did not arrive at shared final conclusions even though, after examining jointly the evidence, they did agree on facts, findings and recommendations on numerous issues," the joint statement said. Calipari was praised in the statement as a "valued friend of the United States." Both countries "owe him deep and eternal gratitude," it said. Berlusconi insisted on the wording during two meetings this week with U.S. Ambassador Mel Sembler, a Foreign Ministry official said.

From the beginning, versions of the shooting provided by U.S. officials in Baghdad and Italian survivors differed sharply. U.S. officials said the car was traveling at high speed and the driver failed to heed warning shots, arm gestures and spotlights meant to signal him to stop. On Friday, U.S. officials said the car failed to slow down until fired on and that Calipari had not notified U.S. authorities of his movements in time to advise the soldiers manning the checkpoint.

Sgrena and the car's driver have both said that the vehicle was traveling slowly and shots were fired at the same time the warning lights appeared. Calipari was escorting the journalist to Baghdad airport at night after winning her release from kidnappers.

In Washington, a senior administration official acknowledged concern about how the dispute will affect U.S.-Italian relations over the long term and the political future of Berlusconi. "The left in Italy is going to use this to attack him," the official said.

The official expressed confidence Berlusconi would weather the storm. "We are concerned to help him and work with the Italians -- to help our friend deal with this," the official said.

Another U.S. official said the decision to issue Friday's statement but delay release of the actual findings was intended to place the focus on the broader U.S.-Italian relationship. "Italy and the United States are strong allies and enjoy a close and vibrant friendship, based on shared values and ideals," the statement said.

Fini suggested that Italy's relationship with Washington would remain "amicable and one of sincere cooperation."

The shooting created numerous political problems for Berlusconi. Critics charged he was a supine servant of Washington and had been jettisoned by his ally to protect the morale of U.S. troops in Iraq. On Friday, a member of Berlusconi's Forza Italia party said that the prime minister had in fact stood up to Washington. By refusing to sign off on the conclusions of the investigation, "the Italian government had shown its autonomy of judgment," Fabrizio Cicchitto said.

Opposition reaction ranged from scorn to calls for Italy to immediately withdraw its forces from Iraq. Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio, a member of the Green Party, demanded Berlusconi prepare to pull out Italian forces, "seeing as we can't even count on those who should be our allies."

Graham reported from Washington.