Italian Papers reject US death finding

BBC NEWS | Europe | Papers reject Calipari death finding:

"In an interview with La Repubblica, Ms Sgrena describes the report's outcome as 'incredible'. 'Calipari is being blamed for what happened,' she says and urges public opinion to rally behind her view.

'It is important that the judges continue...we need pressure from public opinion,' she says. 'I know that there is already a demand for an independent international commission of investigation, there is an initiative of Euro MPs and Nobel prize winners who are urging the truth about what happened and what is happening to Iraqi civilians every day.'

Rome to continue probe

Under the headline 'Not guilty', the Turin-based La Stampa says that Rome does not accept the conclusions of the investigation.

'As far as Italy is concerned, we are not willing to sacrifice the truth about Nicola Calipari's death on the altar of political and diplomatic relations with our American ally,' the paper says. 'Perhaps the government's embarrassment and current silence are due to the awareness of having turned into a dead end.'

The paper quotes Italian intelligence sources as saying that the US decision to announce the report's findings without consulting the Italian authorities could force Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to publicly oppose the US findings.

'The consequences could be devastating,' an intelligence officer said."