The body of Nicola Calipari, the Italian police office who was shot dead by United States security forces in Baghdad on Friday 4 March, will lie in state at Italys Vittorio Emanuele monument in the centre of Rome until his state funeral on Monday 7 March. Thousands are expected to pay their respects to the Italian hero.

Calipari, who was seconded to the secret services, was responsible for the successful release of journalist Giuliana Sgrena on 4 March, as well as previous Italian hostages. Sgrena, who was also wounded in the shooting, is now receiving treatment in Romes military hospital .

The countrys president Carlo Azeglio Ciampi and full state honours greeted Caliparis body when it arrived Saturday night at Romes military Ciampino airport. The state funeral is at 10.00 in the church of S. Maria degli Angeli in Rome, the city where he lived.

According to the Italian news agency ANSA the autopsy report indicates that a single bullet in the head killed Calipari. The much-respected officer, who has been awarded the gold medal for valour, leaves a wife and two children.