Hostage claims US may have targeted her

ITALIAN hostage Giuliana Sgrena, shot and wounded after being freed in Iraq claimed that US forces may have deliberately targeted her because Washington opposed Italy’s policy of dealing with kidnappers.

She offered no evidence for her claim, but the sentiment reflected growing anger in Italy over the conduct of the war, which has claimed more than 20 Italian lives.

Friday evening’s killing of the agent and wounding of the journalist has sparked tension with Italy’s US allies and put pressure on Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to take a hard line with President George Bush.