The White House called the shooting a ''horrific accident" and restated its promise to investigate fully.
Without backing up the contention, the 56-year-old journalist said she thought it was possible she was targeted because the United States objected to methods used to secure her release.
''The fact that the Americans don't want negotiations to free the hostages is known," she told Sky TG24 television by telephone, her voice hoarse and shaky. ''The fact that they do everything to prevent the adoption of this practice to save the lives of people held hostage -- everybody knows that. So I don't see why I should rule out that I could have been the target."
Sgrena, of the daily newspaper Il Manifesto, said she knew nothing about a ransom payment, and no details have emerged about how authorities won her release. An Italian Cabinet minister said money probably changed hands.
US officials object to ransom payments or negotiation with kidnappers, contending this encourages more abductions.
The shooting has fueled anti-American sentiment in a country in which people have deeply opposed the war in Iraq, but it did not provoke mass protests like those that have drawn tens of thousands of people into the streets.
But at least 10,000 people lined up in the rain to pay respects to Nicola Calipari, the agent who died trying to shield Sgrena from the US troops' bullets.
Draped in an Italian flag, his casket lay in state at Rome's Vittoriano national monument. A state funeral was planned for today and Calipari has been posthumously awarded the gold medal of valor.
Calipari was struck in the temple by a single round and died instantly, the ANSA news agency reported, quoting doctors who performed an autopsy.
White House counselor Dan Bartlett said yesterday the shootings were a ''horrific accident," adding President Bush called Premier Silvio Berlusconi to offer condolences and promise a full investigation.
''In a situation where there is a live combat zone, particularly this road to the airport, has been a notorious area for car bombs, that people are making split-second decisions, and it's critically important that we get the facts before we make judgments," Bartlett said on CNN's ''Late Edition."
