Bush calls Berlusconi over agent

The relationship between Italy and the US has come under strain

The US president has called Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to repeat his regret over the shooting of an Italian agent in Iraq.

George W Bush told Mr Berlusconi that he, the US and its military regretted what had happened.

Intelligence officer Nicola Calipari was shot by US forces as he escorted a freed Italian hostage to safety.

Both countries have published their own - often conflicting - reports into the sequence of events on 4 March 2005.

Mr Bush asked Mr Berlusconi to contact the Calipari family on his behalf to express his condolences.

DIFFERING ACCOUNTS US military: Car approaches checkpoint at high speed Troops attempt to tell driver to stop with arm signals, lights and warning shots Soldiers shoot into engine Italian government: No warning signs to motorists about impending checkpoint Car not speeding and did not accelerate after warning shots Proper inquiry impossible because vehicles removed and army logs destroyed just after shooting Accounts in full Profile: Nicola Calipari Papers reject US findings Readers 'declassify' text

Mr Calipari was killed as the car he was travelling in came under fire from US troops on the road to Baghdad airport.

Giuliana Sgrena, the newly released hostage he was escorting, was injured in the incident.

Observers say the relationship between the Italy and the US has been damaged by the fatal shooting of the senior intelligence officer and the subsequent versions of what happened.

The US insists that its soldiers were not at fault and followed the rules of engagement.

Italy's inquiry blames the American troops' stress and inexperience, and says the US authorities should have signalled that there was a checkpoint on the road.

The Italian foreign ministry delayed the release of its 52-page report, giving it to senior Italian officials and to US ambassador Mel Sembler ahead of publication.

Mr Berlusconi, one of Mr Bush's staunchest allies, sent 3,000 Italian troops to Iraq after Saddam Hussein was ousted, despite a high level of opposition to the war within Italy.

He is due to address parliament on the shooting on Thursday.