CIA trial in Italy hears closing arguments

Prosecutors began closing arguments Wednesday in the trial of 26 Americans and seven Italians accused of orchestrating a CIA-led kidnapping of an Egyptian terrorism suspect.

The arguments by prosecutor Armando Spataro signal the final phase of the first trial in any country involving the CIA's extraordinary renditions program. Spataro's arguments, including the specific sentence he wants for each defendant, are expected to continue into next week.

A verdict is expected by year's end.

Prosecutors say the 26 Americans were mostly CIA agents who worked with Italian intelligence to organize the kidnapping of Muslim cleric Osama Moustafa Hassan Nasr from Milan in February 2003.

Theysay Nasr, a suspected terrorist, was driven to Aviano Air Base in Italy, flown to Ramstein Air Base in southern Germany and then to Egypt, where he was allegedly tortured. Nasr has since been released but remains in Egypt and has not testified at the trial.

Activists decryoutsourcing of torture

The case is the first to scrutinize so-called extraordinary renditions, under which the CIA transferred terrorism suspects to third countries for interrogation. Human rights advocates charge that renditions were the agency's way to outsource the torture of prisoners to countries where torture was practiced.

The CIA has declined to comment on the Italian case, and all the Americans are being tried in absentia.

The Italian government has denied any involvement, and all defendants, or their lawyers, have denied the charges.

Cesare Bulgheroni, a lawyer hired to represent Air Force Col. Joseph Romano, who was head of security at Aviano at the time, filed a motion asking the Italian court to give up jurisdiction and transfer the case to a U.S. military court.

The judge rejected the motion.

Spataro called the motion "incredible, unbelievable and a little bizarre," noting that it came2 yearsafter the trial began.

In his closing arguments, the prosecutor said the Egyptian had been under investigation on suspicion of helping potential suicide bombers travel from Europe to Afghanistan and Iraq when he was taken from Italy.

He said the CIA and Italian intelligence had planted misinformation saying the Egyptian had left Italy and returned voluntarily to the Balkans where he had been living.