[Changleen]

More friendly fire incompetance:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4320111.stm

US troops fire at freed hostage
Italian reporter Giuliana Sgrena has been taken to a hospital in Baghdad with gunshot wounds shortly after being freed from her kidnappers in Iraq.

Ms Sgrena was being driven to Baghdad airport when a US patrol fired at the car, injuring the journalist in the shoulder and killing an officer.

The agent, Nicola Calipari, had taken part in the operation to free her.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi at a news conference that the agent had been killed by US fire.

The prime minister added he had "immediately" summoned the US ambassador, adding he would have to "clarify the behaviour of the US troops for such a serious incident, for which someone will have to take responsibility".

Ms Sgrena, who was abducted on 4 February, was freed in Baghdad.

The Pope, who had appealed for her release, earlier welcomed the news of the release from his hospital bed.

A little-known militant group, Islamic Jihad Organisation, had said it kidnapped her and demanded that Italy withdraw its troops from Iraq.

The same group said in September it had killed two Italian aid workers, Simona Torretta and Simona Pari, who were later released by another organisation.

Tearful appeal

A second agent was injured in Friday's shootout, while a third escaped unharmed.

The Iraqi driver of the car was also reportedly wounded, according to Italian media sources.

"This unfortunate incident took place very near the airport: it was a shootout at a US checkpoint," Mr Berlusconi said.

"Some gunshots hit the car. One man was hit by a deadly bullet. We are petrified and astonished at this twist of fate."

Il Manifesto's editorial director, Francesco Paterno, said he had been told of her release by the Italian government.

The information was also confirmed by Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi.

Two weeks ago, Ms Sgrena appeared in a video begging for help and urging foreign troops to leave Iraq.

In the emotional footage, a tense and tearful Ms Sgrena said: "You must end the occupation, it's the only way we can get out of this situation. I'm counting on you."

Shortly after the video appeared, the Italian Senate voted to extend the country's military presence in Iraq.

It has been suggested that the video was released to coincide with the vote.

Withdrawal

Ms Sgrena's capture had surprised Italian observers, as her left-wing paper has always strongly opposed the war in Iraq, says the BBC's David Willey in Rome.

Many foreigners have been kidnapped by Iraqi militants, usually demanding the withdrawal of foreign troops or companies associated with the US-led invasion of the country.

Some have been killed, while others have been released. Many more Iraqis have been kidnapped, usually for ransom.

Ms Sgrena is the eighth Italian to have been taken hostage.

An Italian journalist and Red Cross aid worker, Enzo Baldoni, was kidnapped last August and killed by a group calling itself the Islamic Army in Iraq.

Four Italians were taken hostage in Iraq in April. One of them, civilian security guard Fabrizio Quattrocchi, was later shot dead by his captors, while three were released.

 

[PsychO!1]

Excerpt from story posted on MSNBC

Car was traveling ‘at a high rate of speed’
The coalition statement said that troops had "fired on a vehicle that was approaching a coalition checkpoint in Baghdad at a high rate of speed." It said the incident was under investigation.

Both the Apcom and ANSA news agencies said that Sgrena was in a hospital in Iraq with a shoulder injury.

The editor of Il Manifesto, Gabriele Polo, said the secret service agent was killed when he threw himself over the freed hostage to protect her from fire, according to Apcom. He also said Sgrena was in the hospital but was not seriously injured.

In an interview with Europe Radio 1, French terrorism expert Frederic Helbert quoted intelligence sources in Baghdad as saying the Italians had wanted to evacuate Sgrena from Iraq as soon as possible and had embarked on the airport road, scene of frequent terrorist attacks, without obtaining the proper clearances or communicating with the U.S. forces.

 

[N8 v2.0]

Baghdad...

Frequent terrorist attacks...

Failure to notify proper authorities...

Speeding car...

Check point....

Shoot first, ask questions later.

 

[Slugman]

More posting incompetance...

More friendly fire incompetance:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4320111.stm