Public prosecutors in Italy have called on the government to request the extradition of 22 CIA agents from the United States. The agents are believed to be involved in the kidnapping of an Egyptian imam suspected of terrorism. The man was abducted from a street in Milan in 2003 and taken to Egypt, where he is said to have been tortured by members of the secret service. It is believed that he is still being held by the Egyptian authorities.

The 22 CIA agents are all thought to be stationed outside Italy at present. The Italian Justice Ministry has yet to decide whether to make a formal extradition request to the United States.

(rnw.nl)

Yeah, like the US would hand over them. :rolleyes:

First they need to come up with some solid proof of those accusations, because statements like "the agents are believed to have kidnapped" don't sound very convincing. After that there's plenty of time for the US to flip them the finger. :D

<font color=skyblue>Isn't that why Bush would not join the thing about the international court? That he'd never consent to handing over a US citizen to another nation for judgement, rather the US would try their own people...</font>

The problem with that method of course being when they're not tried at all.

This was poorly handled IMO - proper courtesy demands that the Americans simply ask the Italian secret service to pick them up instead.

Can you imagine the uproar if the French secret service swiped someone off an American street? Arrogance, arrogance, arrogance!

Yet the US constatly requests us to hand over own citizens, who apparantly rarely seem to get fair trials on the other side of the atlantic. And since the Americans have denied (by my knowledge) every request for the extradition of American criminals, it makes you wonder what the point of our extradition treaty is.

<font color=skyblue>You're right. It is hypocritical. I can't think of a better word to express it. It makes me feel...icky.</font>

That's why i believe that the "no" to the international court is mainly to protect his own ass. :D

Some questions.
Has the Italian government officially requested the extradition of the CIA agents, or are these public prosecutors just trying to make a name for themselves by standing up to the big bad Americans? What evidence do these prosecutors have that any Americans were involved? Are the alleged agents wanted for questioning or are the prosecutors planning on pressing charges?

<font color = lightgreen>That's nice. I'm sure they do want CIA agents extradited to Italy. That will probably happen just after the Sun goes nova. [img]graemlins/petard.gif[/img] </font>

I'm sure that no one in the US Government would even confirm the name of one of their CIA operatives.

Countries must pride "prima facie" evidence to extradite from the US. On the other hand a mere "allegation" by the US is enough for someone to be extradited to the US.

This article goes into more detail:

European courts may challenge US terror renditions

14.11.2005 - 09:57 CET | By Lisbeth Kirk
Three European countries are considering judicial inquiries into potential criminal offences related to CIA operations in Europe.

The cases have been underway for some time, but gained increasing attention after recent press reports that the US intelligence agency, the CIA, has held suspects in covert detention centres in eastern Europe.

Already in March, a judge from the Spanish island of Majorca opened a criminal investigation after a local newspaper reported a series of visits to the island's international airport by planes known to regularly operate for the CIA.

The Spanish national court will now be asked to consider whether the CIA was routing planes carrying terror suspects through Majorca as part of its so-called rendition program, involving secret kidnappings of terror suspects, reports the New York Times.

Italy and Germany are also considering judicial inquiries into potential criminal offences related to CIA operations in Europe.

The Bush administration could see a formal request from Italy to extradite 22 past and present CIA operatives accused by a Milan prosecutor and judge of kidnapping a radical imam nearly three years ago.

Italian justice minister Roberto Castelli said after a visit to Washington on Thursday that he would see the legal papers and then decide whether to forward the extradition request to the US.

In Germany, a separate investigation has been opened into the February 2003 kidnapping of an imam known as Abu Omar.

The man was picked up in Milan, taken to an Italian air base then put aboard a military flight to Germany and finally ended up in Cairo.

The Aviano air base in Italy and the Ramstein air base in Germany are both home to US air force units.

The German prosecutor, Eberhard Bayer, whose district includes the Ramstein base, is now studying the evidence before deciding whether a crime was committed.

MEP debate
Today (14 November) members of the European Parliament will debate the reports of secret CIA detention camps in Europe, following a statement from the European Commission.

Last week the Council of Europe in Strasbourg appointed Swiss liberal politician Dick Marty to examine the existence of alleged secret American detention centres for terror suspects.

The United Nations' special rapporteur on torture, Manfred Nowak, might also launch an investigation.

The Austrian said last week that if reports of the CIA's activities proved correct, then the agency was engaged in a "systematic practice of enforced disappearance," according to the New York Times.

(EUObserver)

<font color=8fbc8f>Hey, what goes around comes around. All in favor say so.
Now, as soon as they tell us by name who it is exactly they want, then we might be able to assist them. But 22 past or present agents? Come on, see it for what it is. Media alert, 'W' bashing, another US is so awful campaign!</font>

I believe one of em is Aldrich Ames. Can i have him ? :D

The "no" to the international community on the Internat'l Criminal Court is not based on protecting US citizens from GOVERNMENTS, but rather from INDIVIDUALS.

Agree with Felix, without specifics and facts and proof, this is just piss in the wind.

Isn't that what counter-intelligence is for? Capture and possibly execute the spies before they do any harm?

Maybe you should send the Italians a memo about it. One would have thought they know that. Maybe we should send back a few "Deez" and "Doze" guys from Chicago to remind them what being I-talian is about. ;)

Foggedaboudit. :D