ITALIANS LOOKING TO ARREST 3 CIA AGENTS, AND 22 OTHER AMERICANS FOR KIDNAPPING
Randy L. Harrington
July 05, 2006
ROME—Italian prosecutors said today that they are looking to arrest 4 American CIA agents, who acted with twenty-two other Americans, and two Italians in kidnapping an Egyptian cleric in Milan in 2003.
Prosecutors in Milan said that they are looking for three American CIA agents, and a fourth American who worked for the joint US-Italian air base in Aviano, where the 3 CIA agents took the kidnapped Egyptian after his abduction, as well as 22 other American personnel involved in the kidnapping.
Italian authorities would not provide names, but said that two Italians, both heads of Italian intelligence were arrested, and charged with kidnapping.
The four Americans, and two Italians are accused of kidnapping Osama Moustafa Hassa Nasr, an Egyptian Cleric and suspected terrorist also known as Abu Omar from a Milan street on February 17, 2003. Prosecutors said that the operation to kidnap the cleric represents an international breach of Italian sovereignty. The alleged kidnapping has compromised Italy's anti-terrorism efforts, and have already incriminated 22 other suspected American CIA agents.
Prosecutors allege that Nasr was kidnapped, and taken to the joint US-Italian airbase, where he was flown to Germany, and then to Egypt. He was turned over to Egyptian authorities who have tortured him.
Prosecutors claims that the kidnapping was part of a CIA operation titled, “Extraordinary Rendition”, that concentrates on kidnapping terrorist suspects, and turning them over to third countries for torture, and execution.
Italian authorities, and Nasr's lawyer said that he is being held in a Cairo prison. Egyptian authorities can't explain how Nasr ended up in their country, when he was supposed to be living in Italy.
The Italian news media claims that Nasr fought in Afghanistan as well as Bosnia, and that he has been under surveillance for suspicion of recruiting Islamic terrorists. Prosecutors admitted that the kidnapping had disrupted a major Italian anti-terrorism operation being conducted, but declined to provided further details. It is alleged that because the CIA acted without communication, or authority from the Italian government that the kidnapping could place Italy in greater danger, and harm of terrorist attacks. Milan Prosecutor Armando Spataro, who is the lead prosecutor in charge of the investigation, declined further comment, but did say that the actions of the American's on Italian soil was criminal.
Italian media reports for the past many months have said that Italian intelligence officers had been involved in the CIA operation. A report that appeared in La Republica in May claimed that Italian intelligence officials had cooperated with the Americans.
The former Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi has said repeatedly that Italian intelligence operatives played no part in, and had no knowledge about the American operation.
Prosecutor Spataro is seeking international extradition of the the suspected Americans that have been accused in the abduction. Former Premier Berlusconi declined to forward the extradition request to Washington, but now that Berlusconi is no longer Premier, Spataro will ask new government leader Romano Prodi to make the extradition request to Washington. Italian proscutors claim that the unilateral acts of the American's compromised their intelligence investigation.
Italian intelligence officials annonymously stated that American intelligence agents often take part in such operations, because they are frustrated that the US does not allow them to use torture on suspected terrorists.
As part of the Italian investigation, Milan authorities on Wednesday searched the offices of the Libero, an Italian daily newspaper. About 15 police officers searched the offices, and a computer of Renato Farina, Libero's deputy editor was seized by the Italian police.
Spataro said that his investigation would be complete this month, and that he would ask for indictments against the American CIA personnel. An Italian judge will then rule on whether they would stand trial for their crimes.
American intelligence officials, as well as State Department spokesmen refused to comment. Citing national security, and diplomatic reasons for not commenting.
SOURCES/CONTRIBUTORS: AP; LIBERO; REUTERS; HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Copyright 2006 Randy L. Harrington. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Prosecutors in Milan said that they are looking for three American CIA agents, and a fourth American who worked for the joint US-Italian air base in Aviano, where the 3 CIA agents took the kidnapped Egyptian after his abduction, as well as 22 other American personnel involved in the kidnapping.
Italian authorities would not provide names, but said that two Italians, both heads of Italian intelligence were arrested, and charged with kidnapping.
The four Americans, and two Italians are accused of kidnapping Osama Moustafa Hassa Nasr, an Egyptian Cleric and suspected terrorist also known as Abu Omar from a Milan street on February 17, 2003. Prosecutors said that the operation to kidnap the cleric represents an international breach of Italian sovereignty. The alleged kidnapping has compromised Italy's anti-terrorism efforts, and have already incriminated 22 other suspected American CIA agents.
Prosecutors allege that Nasr was kidnapped, and taken to the joint US-Italian airbase, where he was flown to Germany, and then to Egypt. He was turned over to Egyptian authorities who have tortured him.
Prosecutors claims that the kidnapping was part of a CIA operation titled, “Extraordinary Rendition”, that concentrates on kidnapping terrorist suspects, and turning them over to third countries for torture, and execution.
Italian authorities, and Nasr's lawyer said that he is being held in a Cairo prison. Egyptian authorities can't explain how Nasr ended up in their country, when he was supposed to be living in Italy.
The Italian news media claims that Nasr fought in Afghanistan as well as Bosnia, and that he has been under surveillance for suspicion of recruiting Islamic terrorists. Prosecutors admitted that the kidnapping had disrupted a major Italian anti-terrorism operation being conducted, but declined to provided further details. It is alleged that because the CIA acted without communication, or authority from the Italian government that the kidnapping could place Italy in greater danger, and harm of terrorist attacks. Milan Prosecutor Armando Spataro, who is the lead prosecutor in charge of the investigation, declined further comment, but did say that the actions of the American's on Italian soil was criminal.
Italian media reports for the past many months have said that Italian intelligence officers had been involved in the CIA operation. A report that appeared in La Republica in May claimed that Italian intelligence officials had cooperated with the Americans.
The former Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi has said repeatedly that Italian intelligence operatives played no part in, and had no knowledge about the American operation.
Prosecutor Spataro is seeking international extradition of the the suspected Americans that have been accused in the abduction. Former Premier Berlusconi declined to forward the extradition request to Washington, but now that Berlusconi is no longer Premier, Spataro will ask new government leader Romano Prodi to make the extradition request to Washington. Italian proscutors claim that the unilateral acts of the American's compromised their intelligence investigation.
Italian intelligence officials annonymously stated that American intelligence agents often take part in such operations, because they are frustrated that the US does not allow them to use torture on suspected terrorists.
As part of the Italian investigation, Milan authorities on Wednesday searched the offices of the Libero, an Italian daily newspaper. About 15 police officers searched the offices, and a computer of Renato Farina, Libero's deputy editor was seized by the Italian police.
Spataro said that his investigation would be complete this month, and that he would ask for indictments against the American CIA personnel. An Italian judge will then rule on whether they would stand trial for their crimes.
American intelligence officials, as well as State Department spokesmen refused to comment. Citing national security, and diplomatic reasons for not commenting.
SOURCES/CONTRIBUTORS: AP; LIBERO; REUTERS; HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Copyright 2006 Randy L. Harrington. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.