new	all
articles	3	1707
headlines	35	12463
videos	0	49
links	0	311
users	9	13066
blogs	38	19698
forum	56	31377
store	*	*

H17478

Headlines : Human Rights

Summary:

Hassan Nasr was illegally abducted by CIA agents from the streets of Milan in 2003. The “rendition” of Nasr could not have occurred without the cooperation of the Italian secret services and the government of the time, which was headed by a certain Silvio Berlusconi, since deposed and then re-elected as PM.

Since 2003 Berlusconi has repeatedly criticized the trial as damaging to national security and while PM he refused to pass requests for information from Italian prosecutors to Washington. He has, in short, been a most willing lackey of the Bush administration.

This may be challenged if, in a sensational move, he is called to testify and account for his actions.

[Posted By Szamko]

By Phil Stewart
Republished from Reuters

Berlusconi could be called to testify in case of Hassam Mustafa Osama Nasr

An Italian judge could decide on Wednesday to make Silvio Berlusconi the first head of a government to testify in criminal proceedings over secret CIA transfers of terrorism suspects.

Judge Oscar Magi is expected to announce his decision on whether to call Berlusconi and other politicians when he resumes a trial at 9 a.m. British time against 26 Americans and seven Italians accused of carrying out a transfer or “rendition” in 2003.

Prosecutors say a CIA-led team kidnapped a Muslim cleric off the streets of Milan and secretly flew him to Egypt.

There, the terrorism suspect, Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr, says he was tortured under questioning and held for years without charge.

[end excerpt]

Click here to read the rest of the article