ROME, March 8: Italy's Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini on Tuesday highlighted sharp differences between Rome's probe into the shooting by US troops of its top intelligence agent in Iraq and the version provided by its American allies.

Mr Fini dismissed Washington's view that a lack of communication was responsible for the death of Nicola Calipari, and demanded that the United States "identify and punish" those responsible for the shooting.

In a speech to parliament which signalled Italy's growing impatience with its ally, Mr Fini said Washington's version of the events which led to Calipari's death differed notably from Italy's.

"The reconstruction of the event does not coincide fully with what the American authorities have told us." "There are two divergences, the high speed attributed to the car in which our operatives were travelling, and the series of warnings prior to the United States' soldiers opening fire."

President George Bush has promised a full investigation into the incident, which has fanned anti-American sentiment in Italy amid renewed calls for a withdrawal of Italy's 3,000-strong military contingent from the country. -AFP