An Italian judge has ordered 26 US citizens - most of them CIA agents - to stand trial over the kidnapping of an Egyptian cleric in Milan in 2003.
Osama Mustafa Hassan was allegedly seized there by the CIA and flown to Egypt, where he says he was tortured.

Five Italians were also indicted by the judge, including Italy's ex-military intelligence chief, Nicolo Pollari.

The case would be the first criminal trial over the secret US practice known as "extraordinary rendition".

During rendition, people suspected of involvement in terror activities would be taken from one country and flown to another, where many claim they were tortured.

The Italian government has yet to decide whether or not it wishes to request the extradition of the indicted men and women, who are believed to have returned to the US.

Those indicted include the former station chief of CIA operations in Milan, Robert Seldon Lady, who says his opposition to the proposal to kidnap the Imam was over-ruled.

He is reported to have returned to the US, leaving behind a villa in Italy which he bought with his life savings.

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