Italy's friendship with US 'unaffected'

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi told parliament today he disagreed with some of the US military’s conclusions into the March shooting death of an Italian agent in Baghdad, but insisted those differences won’t affect Italy’s friendship with Washington or the deployment of Italian troops in Iraq.

Days after Rome and Washington issued rival reports into the death of Nicola Calipari, Berlusconi tried to strike a balancing act: easing any tension with the administration of US President George Bush while defending the dignity of his country before a powerful ally.