Berlusconi addresses parliament on death of agent in Iraq скачать в хорошем качестве

Berlusconi addresses parliament on death of agent in Iraq

(9 Mar 2005) 1. Exteriors Italian Senate 2. Wide shot Senate hall 3. Opposition Senators 4. SOUNDBITE: (Italian) Silvio Berlusconi, Italian Prime Minister: "Calipari called undersecretary of the cabinet Gianni Letta and the chief of Military Secret Service General Pollari on the way to the airport, to give information about the liberation of the journalist. Then Calipari warned through our liaison officer, who was at the beginning mistaken for the fourth person inside the car but was actually in the airport with an American colonel, the military authorities about their immediate return to the airport zone." 5. Under Secretary of the Cabinet Gianni Letta 6. SOUNDBITE: (Italian) Silvio Berlusconi, Italian Prime Minister: "I had a long talk on the phone with the president of the United States and he expressed his regrets for what happened together with his full determination to cooperate until a full reconstruction of the facts is complete, and those responsible identified." 7. Berlusconi surrounded by Ministers Council, foreign affairs Minister Gianfranco Fini (left) 8. SOUNDBITE: (Italian) Silvio Berlusconi, Italian Prime Minister: "This reconstruction derives from what our intelligence officer testified, who was with Calipari in the car and was wounded in an arm. His deposition does not coincide with the version that was reported by US authorities." 9. Opposition senators 9. SOUNDBITE: (Italian) Silvio Berlusconi, Italian Prime Minister: "This will for collaboration brought to a very important decision that even American press considered unprecedented: the American government agreed to my personal request to President Bush for Italy to be part of the inquiry. The Multinational Force in Iraq will carry on to assess facts and responsibilities." 10. Senators applauding in memory of Nicola Calipari STORYLINE: The Italian intelligence agent killed by U.S. forces in Iraq had U.S. military authorisation for his operation to win the release of a hostage, Premier Silvio Berlusconi told the Italian Senate on Wednesday. It was his first major address since Friday''s shooting strained relations between Washington and one of its biggest allies. Berlusconi told Italy''s Senate that the car carrying agent Nicola Calipari and former hostage Giuliana Sgrena stopped immediately when a light was flashed at them by US soldiers manning a roadblock. "I had a long talk on the phone with the president of the United States and he expressed his regrets for what happened," said Berlusconi. The idea that Calipari was killed by friendly fire was "painful" to accept, Berlusconi said, but he reassured politicians that the United States was committed to determining the truth about the shooting. His 10-minute address made no mention of ransom payments to win Sgrena''s release - some Italian officials have suggested a ransom was paid, but there has been no official confirmation. Italy has called the shooting an "accident," echoing the White House''s characterisation of the death, but has disputed the US version of events and demanded that Washington shed light on the incident and punish those responsible. Calipari was shot and killed on Friday as he headed to Baghdad''s airport after securing the release of Sgrena, who had been kidnapped on 4 February. Sgrena and another intelligence officer in the vehicle were wounded. The US-led coalition in Iraq announced on Tuesday it was ordering an investigation into the shooting, to be led by a US brigadier general with Italian officials'' participation. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...