An Independent fact-finding committee of the United Nations (UN) investigating the armed attack of US-soldiers which  resulted in killing Nicola Calipari and injuring Giuliana  Sgrena is necessary. The European Left demands of the EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy  Javier Solana to take the initiative in this matter in  agreement with the governments of Denmark, France, Greece,  Great Britain, Italy and Spain.

The US governement has to investigate, first of all in  the common commission with the Italian governement, on  the armed attack of its soldiers. We will not accept any  interference in the investigation on the search for truth.  The US cannot stick to its principle of public desinformation.
 
The fate of Giuliana Sgrena and other hostages is demonstrating  the world that Iraq is not on his way to democracy and  peace. This way will only be opened, if the occupation  of Iraq is ended and the occupation troops are retreated.  As a correspondent of the C ommunist paper il manifesto Giuliana  Sgrena was committed to reporting on the everyday life  of ordinary people in Iraq. Time and again she called for  the retreat of the occupation forces.

A European initiative is necessary to clear up the circumstances  of the armed attack by US-soldiers and to increase pressure  for the retreat of all occupation forces from Iraq. Our  sympathies and our solidarity are with the family of Nicola  Calipari, with Italian civil society and with the left  in parliament. We support their demand for the immediate  retreat of the Italian troops in Iraq.