Italian journalist doesn't rule out that U.S. troops shot at her deliberately

The Italian journalist who was wounded by U.S. gunfire in Baghdad said Sunday she does not rule out the possibility that troops shot at her car deliberately, because the United States disapproved of Italy's intervention to win her freedom from Iraqi captors.

Italian journalist doesn't rule out that U.S. troops shot at her deliberately
06:51 PM EST Mar 06
ANGELA DOLAND

ROME (AP) - The Italian journalist who was wounded by U.S. gunfire in Baghdad said Sunday she does not rule out the possibility that troops shot at her car deliberately, because the United States disapproved of Italy's intervention to win her freedom from Iraqi captors.

Giuliana Sgrena made the sensitive comments from a Rome hospital where she is recuperating from a shrapnel wound to the shoulder. An Italian intelligence officer was killed when U.S. troops at a checkpoint fired at their vehicle Friday as they headed to the airport, celebrating her first moments of freedom.

Neither Italian nor U.S. officials gave details about how authorities won Sgrena's release after a month in captivity, but one Italian cabinet minister said a ransom was likely paid. U.S. officials caution against ransoms, saying they encourage further kidnappings.

Without backing up the claim, Sgrena said it was possible she was targeted on purpose. The left-wing journalist, who works for the Communist newspaper Il Manifesto, said she knew nothing about a ransom and offered no details on the talks.

"The fact that the Americans don't want negotiations to free the hostages is known," she told Sky TG24 television by telephone, her voice hoarse and shaky.

"The fact that they do everything to prevent the adoption of this practice to save the lives of people held hostage, everybody knows that. So I don't see why I should rule out that I could have been the target."

The shooting fuelled anti-American sentiment in a country where people have deeply opposed the war in Iraq, despite Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's decision to send 3,000 troops after the ouster of Saddam Hussein. Sgrena's newspaper was a fierce opponent of the war and frequently criticizes the policies of U.S. President George W. Bush.

One Italian cabinet member urged Sgrena to show more caution in her remarks.

"I understand the emotion of these hours, but those who have been under stress in the past few weeks should pull themselves together and avoid saying nonsense," Communications Minister Maurizio Gasparri said, quoted by the ANSA news agency.

Gasparri said the shooting would not affect Italian support for efforts to secure postwar Iraq.

"The military mission must carry on because it consolidates democracy and liberty in Iraq," he said.

In an article published Sunday, Sgrena recalled how her captors warned her "to be careful because the Americans don't want you to return."

She said they blindfolded her and drove her to a location to release her. Then she was turned over to agents and they set off for the airport.

The U.S. military said the Americans used hand and arm signals, flashing white lights and fired warning shots to get the speeding car to stop at the roadblock.

But in an interview with Italian La 7 TV, Sgrena disputed the claim, saying "there was no bright light, no signal." She also has said the car was travelling at normal speed.

Her editor, Gabriele Polo, said Italian officials told him 300-400 rounds were fired at the car. Italian military officials said two other intelligence agents were wounded in the shooting; U.S. officials said it was only one.

"President Bush, on behalf of the American people, expresses our condolences," White House counsellor Dan Bartlett said Sunday on CNN's Late Edition, calling the shooting "a horrific accident" and pledging a full investigation.

"As you know, in a situation where there is a live combat zone, particularly this road to the airport has been a notorious area for car bombs," Bartlett said. "People are making split-second decisions, and it's critically important that we get the facts before we make judgments."

Sgrena, who was abducted Feb. 4 by gunmen outside Baghdad University, returned to Rome on Saturday. She said she had no intention of going back to Iraq. Her captors, she said, made it clear that "they do not want witnesses, and we are all perceived as possible spies."

An Iraqi legislator, Younadem Kana, said he had "non official" information that a $1 million US ransom was paid for Sgrena's release, Italy's Apcom news agency reported.

Asked whether ransom was paid, an Italian cabinet minister said it was "very probable."

"Moreover, it is largely preferable to pay an economic price than the price of a human life, or a political price that would consist of blackmail to pull out troops," Agriculture Minister Giovanni Alemanno was quoted as telling Corriere della Sera newspaper.

U.S. Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld called Italy's defence minister, Antonio Martino, to express sorrow for the death of agent Nicola Calipari.

Calipari was struck in the temple by a single round and died instantly, ANSA said, quoting doctors who performed an autopsy.

Draped in an Italian flag, his coffin lay in state at Rome's Vittoriano national monument, which is home to Italy's tomb of the unknown soldiers. Within the first few hours, at least 10,000 people paid their respects, with many lining up in the rain.

A state funeral was planned for Monday. Calipari, who was killed shielding Sgrena from gunfire, is to be awarded the gold medal of valour.

© The Canadian Press, 2005
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/world/050306/w030640.html