Italy Tries CIA Agents Accused of Kidnapping Terror Suspect

Seized imam moved to Egypt for interrogation

By Peter Fearon, Newser Staff

Posted Jun 8, 2007 7:32 AM CDT

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Italy Tries CIA Agents Accused of Kidnapping Terror Suspect — Montasser el- Zayat, the Egyptian lawyer of Osama Moustafa Hassan Nasr, also known as Abu Omar, talks with the president of the Islamic cultural institute of Milan Abdel Hamid Shaari, left, at the opening of the trial involving the CIA's extraordinary rendition program, which started in Milan, Italy,... (Associated Press)

The controversial trial in absentia of 25 CIA operatives and a former head of Italian intelligence opens today in Milan, just as President Bush arrives in Italy. The International Herald Tribune reports on the implications of the case, which centers on the abduction of a Muslim terror suspect who was sent to Egypt for interrogation and, he claims, torture.

Under the CIA's "extraordinary rendition" program, suspects are seized on behalf of the US and handed over to a third nation for questioning. The suspect in this case headed a network of militants; whether or not he's a terrorist, the chief prosecutor says, "kidnapping Abu Omar was a serious crime and did serious damage to our fight against terrorism." (Read more CIA stories.)

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