ROME, Feb. 7, 2007

Italy To Try GI For Killing Agent In Iraq

U.S. Soldier To Stand Trial In Absentia For Fatal Shooting Of Italian Agent In Baghdad

    • The coffin of Italian information officer Nicola Calipari, draped in the Italian flag, is carried outside the Vittoriano Tomb of the Unknown Soldier monument in Rome, Monday, March 7, 2005.

      The coffin of Italian information officer Nicola Calipari, draped in the Italian flag, is carried outside the Vittoriano Tomb of the Unknown Soldier monument in Rome, Monday, March 7, 2005.  (AP)

    • Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi greets Giuliana Sgrena, the journalist abducted in Iraq, released and later shot at by U.S. troops, at the hospital in Rome, Monday, March 7 2005.

      Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi greets Giuliana Sgrena, the journalist abducted in Iraq, released and later shot at by U.S. troops, at the hospital in Rome, Monday, March 7 2005.  (AP)

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(AP)  An Italian judge on Wednesday ordered a U.S. soldier to stand trial for the fatal shooting of an Italian intelligence agent at a checkpoint in Baghdad, the prosecutor said.

Spec. Mario Lozano is indicted for murder and attempted murder in the death of Nicola Calipari, who was shot on March 4, 2005, on his way to the Baghdad airport shortly after securing the release of an Italian journalist who had been kidnapped in the Iraqi capital, prosecutor Pietro Saviotti said.

Another agent, who was driving the car, and the journalist, Giuliana Sgrena, were wounded.

"This looks to me like the first step on a long road toward truth and justice, and I hope justice will come in the end," said a visibly emotional Rosa Calipari, the agent's widow.

Sgrena, the journalist, said she was satisfied with the judge's decision.

Lozano was not at the hearing and his whereabouts are not known, but defendants can be tried in absentia in Italy. Judge Sante Spinaci set his trial date for April 17.

The defense had tried to have the case dismissed, arguing that Lozano had merely been following orders.

"I wasn't expecting this, because I think there were grounds for a dismissal because of the fact that he was following orders," said Lozano's court-appointed lawyer, Fabrizio Cardinali.

Prosecutors so far have not sought the soldier's arrest. Lozano, a member of the New York-based 69th Infantry Regiment, has said through friends in the military that he had no idea the car was carrying the Italians.

If convicted, Lozano could be sentenced to life in prison, said Francesca Coppi, who is Rosa Calipari's lawyer.

The case has strained U.S.-Italian relations. The United States and Italy drew different conclusions in reports on the incident. U.S. authorities have said the vehicle was traveling fast, alarming soldiers, who feared an insurgent attack. Italian officials claimed the car was traveling at normal speed and accused the U.S. military of failing to signal there was a checkpoint.

Calipari's death angered Italians, already largely opposed to the war in Iraq, and the agent was mourned as a national hero.


© MMVII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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by lars008-2009 February 8, 2007 11:08 AM EST
fascist nazi islamic muslims
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=nazi+muslim

http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=nazi muslim&fr=yfp-t-501&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8
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by lars008-2009 February 8, 2007 10:50 AM EST
Terrorism Awareness Project to wake up Americans and the World
http://www.terrorismawareness.org/

http://www.terrorismawareness.org/islamic-mein-kampf
Reply to this comment
by lars008-2009 February 8, 2007 6:57 AM EST
you know whom i am talking about haji.......
Reply to this comment
by lars008-2009 February 8, 2007 6:45 AM EST
tucson23

tell it to the fascist nazi islamic muslims haji.....

that is exactly what they do........
Reply to this comment
by feelfree1 February 8, 2007 4:24 AM EST
Re: "Italy To Try GI For Killing Agent In Iraq"

And the noose draws just a little tighter for the Bush regime butchers.
Reply to this comment
by tucson23 February 7, 2007 9:28 PM EST
The essence of racism is to take the negative qualities of a certain number of people in an ethnic group and assume that ALL members of that group are the same way. You may as well say that all white people are rednecks and serial killers. Only an ignorant fool would make such an illogical leap (yes I'm talking to you lars008).
Reply to this comment
by lars008-2009 February 7, 2007 9:28 PM EST
did your mullah tell you to say that haji???

we all know you fascist nazi islamic muslims only do what your mullah tells you....... right haji????

Muslim mullas chanted "kill the Kafir!" (non-muslim).

A Hindu being beaten by Muslims in a mosque in Bangladesh. He was captured outside the mosque while going home. After Friday prayers were over, the Muslims came out and grabbed the first Hindu they could. Mr. Vimal Patak a Bangladeshi born Hindu was beaten to death with sticks as the Muslim mullas (priests) chanted "kill the Kafir!" (non-muslim). With folded hands he begged for his life and died a brutal death. It clearly show the cruelty of Islam. "
http://www.faithfreedom.org/Gallery/10.htm
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by lars008-2009 February 7, 2007 9:17 PM EST
try to find somebody that can read this to you haji.... maybe your mullah..... he will tell you the fascist nazi muslims are commiting genocide of non muslims..... but no where in the Ali Sina's comment is the mention of genocide nor muslims....... and you are correct fascist nazi germany and fascist nazi islam have a lot in common haji..........

Ali Sina, an ex-Muslim from Iran. He is the creator of Faithfreedom.org.
Yet I know that by eradicating Islam we can save the world from the dangers of a catastrophe that otherwise is looming over our heads and could cause more disaster than the 1st and 2nd World Wars combined. Eradication of Islam means restoring peace among humanity and civility, democracy and prosperity in the Muslim world.
http://www.faithfreedom.org/Articles/sina/why_i_left_islam.htm
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by lars008-2009 February 7, 2007 9:06 PM EST
are you trying to justify fascist nazi ialam muslims following current practices on non muslims haji???

islam is a violation of international law

islam practices slavery on non muslaims
islam practices aparthied on non muslims
islam practices rape on non muslims
islam practices genocide on non muslims

all are violations of international law and are crimes against humanity
Reply to this comment
by rheola-2009 February 7, 2007 8:52 PM EST


Christians were responsible for the following
Slavery,Arpethied,Rape, Genocide and Pillage.

They excused it by calling it
1/ The Crusades
2/ The Heresy trials
3/ The Inquisitions

So lets not show our hypocrisy and bigotry.
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