Italian Trial of C.I.A. Operatives Begins With Torture Testimony

[struggle4progress]

By ELISABETH ROSENTHAL
Published: May 15, 2008

MILAN — A long-delayed trial of C.I.A. operatives and former top Italian intelligence officials moved forward here on Wednesday, as a judge ruled that Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi could be called to testify about the abduction of a radical Muslim cleric here in 2003.

Testimony also began Wednesday. The cleric’s wife, Ghali Nabila, said her husband, Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr, known as Abu Omar, was taken from Italy and transferred to a prison in Egypt, where, she said, he was repeatedly tortured ...

The Bush administration has not commented on whether it was responsible for the disappearance of Mr. Nasr, who was abducted near the Jenner Street mosque here in Milan in February 2003. He was finally released in 2007. Last year, an Italian prosecutor brought charges against 26 Americans — 25 Central Intelligence Agency operatives and one Air Force colonel — in the first case involving the contentious practice of extraordinary rendition.

None of the Americans are now in Italy, and the United States has said it will not extradite them. But the case is still likely to reveal many details about a program shrouded in secrecy ...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/15/world/europe/15italy.html?_r=1&em&ex=1210996800&en=7a87be390af2aae0&ei=5087%0A&oref=slogin

[Wizard777]

1. That's 5 and off to the Greatest page with you!

[Disturbed]

2. This is a strange trial. 26 Accused not being represented

by Attorneys?

[Wizard777]

3. It's a trial in absentia. If you want to be represented, Then just show up for the trial.

Otherwise the trial will go on without you.