• Tools:
• Save |
• Print |
• E-mail |
• Most Popular |

Italy blocks trial of CIA agents

Adjust font size:

ROME, Italy (CNN) -- The Italian government has moved to block the trial of 26 Americans, mostly CIA agents, in connection with the alleged kidnapping of a Muslim cleric more than four years ago.

Italy's constitutional court is being asked to annul the trial, scheduled to start June 8, the Italian Justice Ministry told CNN on Thursday.

The case was considered largely symbolic because none of the Americans is in custody in Italy and the Italian government has not asked for their extradition to Italy.

Thirty-five people have been charged in the case -- 26 Americans and six Italians would stand trial for kidnapping and three Italians would stand trial on a charge of complicity. All were indicted last month.

The proceedings revolve around the alleged kidnapping of Osama Nasr Mostafa Hassan, an Egyptian-born Muslim cleric, also known as Abu Omar, in February 2003.

At the time of his disappearance, Milan prosecutors were investigating him for alleged links to terrorism.

Prosecutors allege that a CIA team working with Italian intelligence officials seized him, eventually flying him to Egypt, and used torture as part of an interrogation there.

In an earlier interview, former CIA analyst Michael Scheuer said the Italian military secret service had approved the operation, and CIA sources who refused to be named told CNN in 2005 that the agency had briefed and sought approval from its Italian counterpart for such an abduction.

But the Italian government of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has vigorously denied having authorized Hassan's kidnapping, which it called illegal.

Human rights groups condemn the practice known as "extraordinary rendition," saying suspects have often been sent by the U.S. to countries that practice torture.

Washington acknowledges making secret "rendition" transfers of terror suspects between countries, but denies using torture itself or handing suspects over to countries that do so.

Get up-to-the minute news from CNN CNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more.

---

• Can cloud ships and space sun shades fix the planet?
• Ferguson 'losing faith' in referees
• Floods, mudslides kill scores in El Salvador
• Pakistan rejects report its nukes not secured
• House passes landmark health care legislation

• Irish PM to quit over payments scandal
• NATO chief: Afghan troop increase likely
• Militants hunted as calm retuns to Basra
• Pressure on Bush to skip Olympics
• BA sending misplaced T5 baggage to Milan

• Recruiting suicide bombers (2:50)
• London was lucky (2:36)
• Cars in London rigged as bombs (3:48)
• Second explosives-packed car foun (2:32)
• Soviet culture returns (3:47)