Italy prepared to bury yesterday secret agent Nicola Calipari, whose killing by US forces in Iraq has fanned anti-American sentiment and muted joy at the release of an Italian journalist held hostage. Calipari threw his body over hostage Giuliana Sgrena, protecting her from a hail of bullets as US forces opened fire on their vehicle as they approached Baghdad airport on Friday following Sgrena?s release from captivity.

The secret agent?s body was due to be moved from Rome?s imposing Vittoriano monument at 10:30 a.m. (0930 GMT), where it has laid in state since Sunday. Thousands of Italians were expected to attend the state funeral and television networks were planning to broadcast the ceremony live. Italy?s Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has stood out in Europe for his strong support of US foreign policy, sending 3,000 troops to Iraq despite strong opposition at home.

He has demanded a full investigation by the US military and is due to address parliament on Wednesday over the killing. White House counselor Dan Bartlett called the shooting a ?horrific accident?. The US military said on Friday their soldiers had opened fire on the Italian car after it sped up to a checkpoint and failed to heed signals to slow down.

Sgrena, who was hit in the shoulder by the US fire and is recovering in an Italian hospital, has denied this version of events, saying the car was travelling slowly and received no warning before the shooting started. ?I defy anyone to go and see what?s happening in Iraq and not be anti-American,? Sgrena told Corriere della Sera in an interview published on Monday. Sgrena is a veteran war correspondent who works for Communist daily Il Manifesto.