An Italian judge has issued arrest warrants for four Americans in connection with the kidnapping of an Egyptian Muslim cleric suspected of supporting terrorist organizations. The kidnapping took place in Milan in February 2003.
Judge Enrico Manzi also indicated he has issued warrants for two members of the Italian military intelligence service Sismi in connection with the same incident. They have been named as Marco Mancini, a high-ranking official in Sismi, and Gustavo Pignero, another official at the agency. The two have reportedly been arrested by Italian authorities.
The cleric who was allegedly abducted by the Americans was Osama Nasr Mostafa Hassan, also known as Abu Omar. At the time of his kidnapping, prosecutors in Milan were investigating the Egyptian-born Muslim leader for ties to terrorism.
According to prosecutors, a team of CIA agents flew Hassan to Egypt where interrogators tortured him. The case involves the controversial U.S. policy of 'rendition' where terror suspects are shipped by the U.S. to other countries where torture is often used.
The U.S. has admitted to shipping terror suspects to foreign countries for interrogation but has denied that torture is used.
CIA sources have said that the Italian secret service has approved the abduction of Hassan, something the Italian government has since denied.
The warrants mean that the Americans named can now be arrested in any European Union country. These latest warrants are in addition to those previously issued against 22 other Americans in connection with the case.
