Italians protest in front of the US embassy in Rome. Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena fanned a growing diplomatic rift between Rome and Washington by suggesting US soldiers deliberately tried to target her in an gunfight that killed compatriot Nicola Calipari. (Xinhua/AFP photo)

Rosa Maria Calipari, third from right, sits beside the coffin of her husband Italian intelligence officer Nicola Calipari at the Vittoriano Tomb of the Unknown Soldier monument, in Rome, Sunday, March 6, 2005. Sgrena, who was wounded by American troops in Baghdad shortly after she was released by her Iraqi captors denied U.S. allegations that the car she was in was speeding, and described how Calipari, who had rescued her died protecting her. (AP Photo)

      ROME, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Giuliana Sgrena, the Italian journalist who was shot and wounded Friday by US military gunfire in Iraq after being freed by her captors, on Sunday rebutted US version of the event amid more calls for US apology.

    

Freed Italian hostage Giuliana Sgrena is helped out of the plane at Ciampino airport in Rome. Sgrena fanned a growing diplomatic rift between Rome and Washington by suggesting the US soldiers deliberately tried to kill her.(AFP Pinto)

"Everyone knows that the Americans don't want hostages to be freed by negotiations, and for that reason, I don't see why I should rule out that I was their target," Sgrena told the Sky TG 24 television from a hospital in Rome where she was treated for a shrapnel wound to her shoulder.

    In another interview with the RAI TV, she recounted the last moments before she was freed.

    "When they let me go, it was a difficult moment for me because they told me, 'the Americans don't want you to return alive to Italy.'"

    Sgrena, abducted in early February, was handed over to three Italian intelligence agents. But as they drove to Baghdad airport,US forces opened fire on the car, killing Italian agent Nicola Calipari and wounding three others including Sgrena.

    "Nicola threw himself on to protect me and then suddenly I heard his last breath as he died on top of me," Sgrena wrote in Sunday's issue of the II Manifesto newspaper which she works for.

    The US military said only two were wounded and that the car wasspeeding toward a checkpoint, and US soldiers opened fire after the vehicle ignored warning shots and flashing white lights.

    But Sgrena said the car was going "slowly," II Manifesto reported.

    According to Italy's leading daily Corriere della Sera, the driver, an unidentified Italian agent, said the car was moving at a speed of only 40 to 50 km an hour.

    Italian prosecutors have started a second-degree murder investigation into the killing, while Justice Minister Roberto Castelli has signed orders requesting information from witnesses.

    ITALIANS DEMAND APOLOGY, PAYS LAST RESPECT TO CALIPARI

    The body of Calipari was sent back to Italy late Saturday, which was received by his family members, Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi and Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

    A state funeral was scheduled for Monday, and Calipari was to be awarded the gold medal of valor.

    Thousands of Italians went to Rome's marble Victor Emmanuel monument to pay respect to Calipari where his body was lying in state.

    The killing has triggered anger and condemnation in Italy, increasing pressure on Berlusconi, a strong supporter of the US-led Iraq war who sent 3,000 Italian soldiers to Iraq despite strong domestic opposition.

    Berlusconi is scheduled to address the parliament on the killing on Wednesday.

    "We need to get the guilty punished and an apology from the Americans," Italian Agricultural Minister Giovanni Alemanno told the daily Corriere della Sera.

    "We are trustworthy allies but we must not give the impression of being subordinates," he said.

    Minister of Relations with Parliament Carlo Giovanardi also said he did not believe Washington's version of the event.

    "All 57 million Italians who were united in the anticipation ofGiuliana Sgrena's liberation have the right to know what happened," said Romano Prodi, former Italian prime minister and former president of the European Commission.

    WASHINGTON CALLS KILLING "HORRIFIC ACCIDENT"

    A senior White House official on Sunday called the shooting a "horrific accident" and promised a full investigation.

    "This is a horrific accident, on which President Bush personally called Prime Minister Berlusconi to offer his condolences, as well as to make sure that there is a full investigation, so we're able to understand the very facts that arenow being discussed," White House counselor Dan Bartlett said on CNN's "Late Edition."

    "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, that people are making split-second decisions, and it's critically important that we get the facts before we make judgments," Bartlett said.

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