Anger at U.S.

last updated 8 January 2015

Rome

Italian opposition politicians this week denounced a U.S. investigation that absolves the soldiers who killed an Italian secret service agent in Iraq. Iraqi insurgents had taken an Italian reporter hostage, and Italian agent Nicola Calipari had negotiated for her freedom. As the two were driving to the Baghdad airport in early March, U.S. troops fired on their car, killing Calipari. The Pentagon investigation, leaked to the press this week, found that the troops had acted properly because the car had been speeding through a checkpoint, a finding the Italians dispute. “This is an insult to the truth,” said opposition lawmaker Giuseppe Fioroni, “and a serious act of arrogance toward Italy.” The Italian government is withholding comment until the report is officially released.