CNN Report on Italian Court Hearing to Seek Indictment of CIA Agents

MILAN, Italy — A former Italian intelligence chief who faces possible indictment over the alleged kidnapping of an Egyptian cleric in the CIA’s extraordinary rendition program said Monday he never took part in illegal activity.

Nicolo Pollari said at a hearing that he was unable to defend himself properly, claiming documents that would clarify his position had been excluded from the proceedings because they contained state secrets, according to his lawyers.

Pollari is one of five Italian intelligence officials facing possible indictment in the alleged abduction of cleric and terror suspect Osama Moustafa Hassan Nasr from a Milan street on Feb. 17, 2003.

Prosecutors say Pollari and other officials of the military intelligence agency SISMI worked with the Americans to abduct the cleric.

Twenty’six Americans also could be indicted in what would be the first criminal prosecution involving the CIA program to secretly transfer terror suspects to third countries, where critics say they may face torture.

Read more at the Washington Post

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