ROME, 5 March 2005 — Freed Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena was wounded when US troops opened fire on a convoy carrying her to safety, and an Italian negotiator who helped secure her release was killed, her newspaper Il Manifesto said yesterday.

Italy’s Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi confirmed that Sgrena had been wounded and an Italian secret service agent killed by US troops at a coalition checkpoint. Berlusconi called on the United States to explain how the shooting took place, saying someone had to take responsibility for it.

The journalist was taken to a US-run hospital for treatment for wounds to her shoulder after her vehicle was fired on by US troops at a coalition checkpoint, her newspaper said, adding that the 54-year-old journalist’s life was not in danger.

The negotiator, an Italian secret service agent, was shot dead in the incident as he tried to protect Sgrena, the paper said.

The ANSA news agency said two other Italian secret service agents were wounded. It is not known if they returned fire.

Only shortly before, the Italian government had confirmed Sgrena’s release, exactly a month after she was kidnapped near a Baghdad mosque while on assignment in Iraq.

In Rome, the immense joy and relief at the news of her release quickly turned to concern and anger.

Sgrena’s brother Ivan confirmed on Italian state television RAI that she had been wounded.

“There’s little to say. The Americans nearly killed her,” Sgrena’s companion Pier Scolari was quoted as saying by ANSA.

Sources at the newspaper said the US troops had opened fire when the convoy in which Sgrena was traveling reached a coalition road-block as it was speeding toward Baghdad airport.

The newspaper named the dead man as Nicola Calipari, saying he was hit while trying to protect Sgrena.

Il Manifesto’s Editor Gabriele Polo paid tribute to the Italian agent, crediting him with Sgrena’s release.

“Nicola Calipari is the person we must thank most for Giuliana’s release. Unfortunately, he was killed by American bullets,” said Polo.

Italy’s third-highest state official, Senate Speaker Marcello Pera, expressed satisfaction over Sgrena’s release and his condolences to Calipari’s family.

The journalist was kidnapped in Baghdad last month by an Iraqi group who called on Rome to withdraw its troops from Iraq.