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CIA agents guilty of Italy kidnap CIA agents guilty of Italy kidnap
(30 minutes later)
An Italian judge has convicted 23 CIA agents and two Italian secret agents of the kidnap of a Muslim cleric in 2003. An Italian judge has convicted 23 Americans - all but one of them CIA agents - and two Italian secret agents of the 2003 kidnap of a Muslim cleric.
The agents were accused of abducting Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr, known as Abu Omar, from Milan and sending him to Egypt, where he was allegedly tortured.The agents were accused of abducting Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr, known as Abu Omar, from Milan and sending him to Egypt, where he was allegedly tortured.
The trial, which began in June 2007, is the first involving the CIA's so-called "extraordinary rendition" programme.The trial, which began in June 2007, is the first involving the CIA's so-called "extraordinary rendition" programme.
Three Americans and five Italians have been acquitted in the case. The CIA agents were all tried in their absence. Three Americans and five Italians were acquitted by the court in Milan.
The CIA's Milan station chief at the time, Robert Lady, was given an eight-year term, while the other 22 Americans convicted were sentenced to five years in prison. The Americans were all tried in their absence after the US refused to extradite them.
The CIA's Milan station chief at the time, Robert Lady, was given an eight-year term, while the other 22 Americans convicted were sentenced to five years in prison. One was not identified by prosecutors as a CIA agent.
The two Italian agents were given three-year prison terms.The two Italian agents were given three-year prison terms.
Italian prosecutors said Abu Omar was taken as part of a series of extraordinary renditions carried out by the CIA - when terror suspects were moved between countries without any public legal process.Italian prosecutors said Abu Omar was taken as part of a series of extraordinary renditions carried out by the CIA - when terror suspects were moved between countries without any public legal process.
They told the court he had been kidnapped in daylight on a Milan street in 2003 and flown to Germany, and then Egypt, where he was held for years until being released without charge.They told the court he had been kidnapped in daylight on a Milan street in 2003 and flown to Germany, and then Egypt, where he was held for years until being released without charge.
Judge Oscar Magi said the CIA chief for Italy, Jeffrey Castelli, was protected by state secrecy laws, as were the former head of Italy's military intelligence agency, Nicolo Pollari, and his deputy, Marco Mancini. Judge Oscar Magi acquitted the CIA chief for Rome, Jeffrey Castelli, saying he was protected by state secrecy laws, as were the former head of Italy's military intelligence agency, Nicolo Pollari, and his deputy, Marco Mancini.
Mr Pollari, who resigned over the affair, told the court earlier this year that documents showing he had no involvement in the kidnapping were classified under secrecy laws.Mr Pollari, who resigned over the affair, told the court earlier this year that documents showing he had no involvement in the kidnapping were classified under secrecy laws.