Egypt's current account gap narrows, but overall BoP records deficit    Egypt's PM reviews debt reduction strategy, eyes more private investment    Egypt hosts international neurosurgery conference to drive medical innovation    Egypt, India discuss expanding industrial, investment partnerships    World Bank proposes Egypt join new global health initiative    Egypt's EDA discusses Johnson & Johnson's plans to expand investment in local pharmaceutical sector    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Sisi sends letter to Nigerian president affirming strategic ties    Egypt welcomes 25-nation statement urging end to Gaza war    Egypt, Senegal sign pharma MoU to unify regulatory standards    Egyptian pound ticks down in early Tuesday trading    Famine kills more Gaza children as Israel tightens siege amid global outrage    Kuwait's Crown Prince, Egyptian minister discuss strengthening cooperation    Egyptian Drug Authority discusses plans for joint pharmaceutical plant in Zambia    Egypt's FM seeks deeper economic, security ties on five-nation West Africa tour    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt foils terrorist plot, kills two militants linked to Hasm group    Egypt, Somalia discuss closer environmental cooperation    Egypt exports 175K tons of food in one week    Giza Pyramids' interior lighting updated with new LED system    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Korea Culture Week in Egypt to blend K-Pop with traditional arts    Egypt, Uruguay eager to expand trade across key sectors    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Imam wants to sue Berlusconi over CIA "kidnap"
Published in Daily News Egypt on 14 - 02 - 2007


Reuters
CAIRO/ROME: A Muslim cleric freed from a prison in Egypt four years after being grabbed in Milan in a suspected CIA kidnapping wants to sue former Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi for damages, his lawyer said on Monday. Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr, also known as Abu Omar, has alleged that Egyptian guards tortured him with electric shocks, beatings, rape threats and genital abuse. He believes, and I agree with him, that if it were not for Berlusconi the kidnapping operation would not have happened. He was the prime minister, and he s the one who gave the green light, Nasr s lawyer, Montasser Al-Zayat, told Reuters. Berlusconi has repeatedly denied knowledge of any operation to kidnap Nasr but documents related to the case are classified. Nasr said on Monday, a day after his release, that the ordeal wrecked his life and Zayat renewed plans to seek 10 million euros ($13 million) in damages. Any lawsuit would have to be carried out without Nasr, as the Egyptian-born imam said he had no plans to return to Italy to give evidence - even to a judge considering indicting 26 Americans on kidnapping charges. I ve been reduced to a wreck of a human being, Nasr told Italy s ANSA news agency by telephone. I cannot speak. I cannot leave the country. I don t want to go to prison again.
A judge has issued an arrest warrant for Nasr in Italy arising from an investigation into his possible links to terrorist activities, including recruiting combatants for Iraq. That investigation remains inconclusive, but prosecutors say they have enough evidence to convict the Americans, including the former CIA chief in Italy, for kidnapping the imam in Milan in February 2003. Prosecutors also want to try six Italians, including the former head of military intelligence, for helping the CIA.
Prime Minister Romano Prodi told an Indian newspaper that his government opposed renditions, one of the most controversial aspects of US President George W. Bush s war on terrorism . Prodi confirmed he had kept some documents on the case classified as he was bound by a law protecting state secrets. My government is against any rendition but the case that you refer to concerns state secrets, Prodi told the Hindu. According to the rules, these files cannot be made public and I have reconfirmed that. There are still discussions on this subject, but for the moment I have not changed the policy of my predecessor (Berlusconi), he said in comments at the weekend. I am not covering up anything. It is a case of continuity, Prodi said. Zayat told Reuters an Egyptian court had ordered Nasr s release. After being abducted and flown to Egypt in 2003, Nasr was charged with belonging to an illegal organisation. He was briefly released in 2004 when the charges were dropped but was then detained without charge under emergency laws. His lawyer had said he believed Nasr was re-arrested after ignoring orders to remain silent about the kidnapping. He had called his wife and friends in Italy, recounting details of the abduction which were recorded in police wiretaps and helped Milan prosecutors reconstruct the kidnapping.


Clic here to read the story from its source.