Italian officials announced that they have requested the indictment of Mario Lozano, aged 35, a United States marine who allegedly murdered an Italian military intelligence officer, at a roadblock in Baghdad on March 4th, 2005, ANSA informs.


Nicola Calipari, a SISMI agent, and Giuliana Sgrena, a hostage who had been recently released, both located in an Italian car that was supposed to take them at the airport, were fired upon by the American marines. As Calipari died shielding the hostage, Sgrena sustained only minor injuries, while a Carabinieri police officer was also wounded. The roadblock had been secured by ten American soldiers who were on their first day of service.

Italian prosecutors have indicted the US Marine on two counts of homicide and attempted double homicide and labeled this case to be a political one since it involved many state agents. Moreover, this case made Italy's diplomatic relationship with the United States more tense, also because the latter refused to bring in its input in something which has been described as a "friendly fire shooting".

The United States military announced that the names of the soldiers that were patrolling the area around the roadblock, on the so called Irish Route from downtown Baghdad to the airport, would not be disclosed since that would be a violation of standard procedures, while the justice department confirmed this was the United State's last word on this matter.

The preliminary hearings regarding the ruling on the charges of the US marine will take place in a few days.

Calipari was called a national hero and celebrated as such on the anniversary of his death, which was also established as the day of the SISMI.