Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has again expressed regret to Italy over the death of one of that country's intelligence agents who was shot and killed by U.S. troops at a checkpoint in Iraq.
A State Department spokesman Richard Boucher says Ms. Rice and Italian Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini discussed the issue by telephone on Tuesday. The spokesman says both sides stressed their commitment to work together on various issues, including what they are doing for the people of Iraq.
Italy on Monday challenged a U.S. account clearing American troops of any wrongdoing. The Italian report said U.S. troops were nervous and inexperienced when they fired on a car carrying agent Nicola Calipari, who was escorting Italian journalist and former hostage Giuliana Sgrena to freedom.
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is to report to parliament on the incident Thursday.
Information for this report is provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.