CIA says WMD probe over, found nothing

WASHINGTON — In his final report, the CIA's top weapons inspector in Iraq said yesterday that the hunt for weapons of mass destruction has gone "as far as feasible" and has found nothing, closing an 18-month investigation into the purported programs of Saddam Hussein that were used to justify the 2003 invasion.

"As matters now stand, the WMD investigation has gone as far as feasible," wrote Charles Duelfer, who led the Iraq Survey Group. "After more than 18 months, the WMD investigation and debriefing of the WMD-related detainees has been exhausted."

Duelfer said there is no purpose in keeping detainees who are in custody because of their knowledge of Iraq's weapons, but he did not provide any details about the current number. A U.S. official said the ultimate decision on their release will be made by the Iraqi authorities.

Duelfer also said a group formed to investigate whether WMD-related material was shipped out of Iraq before the invasion wasn't able to reach firm conclusions because the deteriorating security situation limited and later halted their work. Investigators were focusing on transfers from Iraq to Syria.

However, Duelfer said, the Iraq Survey Group believes "it was unlikely that an official transfer of WMD material from Iraq to Syria took place.

Report clears troops in Italian agent's death

WASHINGTON — A U.S. military investigation has cleared American troops of wrongdoing in the killing of an Italian intelligence agent at a U.S. checkpoint in Iraq, officials said yesterday, a conclusion that is likely to stoke the anger simmering throughout Italy since the shooting last month.

The report will conclude that U.S. troops followed the proper procedures when the car carrying agent Nicola Calipari approached a U.S. checkpoint along Baghdad's airport road. The soldiers fired on the vehicle, killing Calipari and wounding Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena, who had just been freed by Iraqi kidnappers.

"The investigation clears the guys from doing anything wrong," said one senior Pentagon official, speaking on condition of anonymity. "They followed their rules of engagement."

Officials in Washington and Rome wrangled yesterday over the final language of the investigation's report, which Pentagon officials said likely would be issued later this week. Both governments hoped to agree on the investigation's wording before results are publicly released.

Colonel says attack hampered invasion

FORT BRAGG, N.C. — A sergeant's attack on his own colleagues in the 101st Airborne Division in Kuwait sidelined key personnel the unit needed for its assignment in the invasion of Iraq, a commander testified yesterday.

"Everybody knew this would be a big fight," Col. Ben Hodges testified yesterday at a sentencing hearing for Sgt. Hasan Akbar, convicted in a grenade-and-rifle attack that killed two soldiers and wounded 14.

"I never dreamed my first casualties would occur inside Camp Pennsylvania and they would be caused by one of my own soldiers."

Hodges commanded the 101st's 1st Brigade Combat Team and was among those wounded in Akbar's attack. He testified for the prosecution, which is seeking a death sentence for Akbar, 34.

Akbar's father, John Akbar of Seattle, said outside court that he went to church over the weekend and prayed that his son's life would be spared. The father is expected to testify for the defense.

Turkey to let U.S. use key air base

ANKARA, Turkey — After months of delay, Turkey's Cabinet yesterday approved a long-standing U.S. request to have increased access to a strategic air base for flying into Iraq and Afghanistan.

The decision was another step toward improving relations with Washington that were strained when Turkey refused to allow U.S. troops to stage an invasion of Iraq from Turkish territory in March 2003.

A Cabinet decree — allowing the U.S. to fly in more cargo planes into the southern Incirlik Air Base for one year beginning in June — was sent to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer for approval, the semiofficial Anatolia news agency said.