CIA agents ordered to face trial in Italy over imam's kidnapping

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MILAN, Italy (AFP) - An Italian judge ordered 26 Americans to stand trial for the kidnapping of an Egyptian imam, setting up the first criminal examination of the CIA's "extraordinary rendition" programme.

taly's former military intelligence chief Nicolo Pollari and his deputy were indicted along with five other Italians in the case, Pollari's lawyer Titta Madia confirmed to AFP.

"We are disappointed but confident that testimony will show General Pollari's opposition to any illegal activity," he said.

Osama Mustafa Hassan, an Egyptian imam, was allegedly abducted on a Milan street on February 17, 2003, and taken to a high-security prison outside Cairo where he claims he was tortured. He was released on Sunday.

http://www.afp.com/english/news/stories/070216182022.c1i0i4nw.html

Reuters: CIA agents ordered to stand trial for Italy kidnap

The trial of the Americans will almost certainly be in absentia, since Washington is not expected to hand them over.

The trial, set to begin on June 8, will be the first criminal case over "renditions" -- one of the most controversial aspects of U.S. President George W. Bush's war on terrorism.

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An Italian police officer, who has accepted a 21-month jail term instead of risking a heavier sentence by going to trial, has acknowledged helping the CIA grab Nasr.

But he says the CIA's Milan station chief at the time, Robert Lady, told him the purpose was to recruit the imam as an informer, not abduct him. Both Lady and Castelli were indicted.

Beyond embarrassing Washington, the case also threatens to pit the Italian government against the independent judiciary in a battle to protect state secrets.