Italian prosecutor probing CIA's role in militant's disappearance

[struggle4progress]

Posted on Thu, Feb. 24, 2005

BY JOHN CREWDSON

Chicago Tribune

WASHINGTON - (KRT) - An Italian prosecutor investigating the apparent kidnapping of a suspected Islamic militant in the streets of Milan served military authorities this week with a demand for records of flights into and out of a joint U.S.-Italian air base in northern Italy.

Italian newspapers have reported that the prosecutor, Armando Spataro, is investigating the possible role of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency in the disappearance of Osama Nasr Mostafa Hassan, better known as Abu Omar, a popular figure in Milan's Islamic community who vanished Feb. 17, 2003. <snip>

The newspaper La Repubblica reported last week that some targets of the investigation worked for the CIA. The leading Italian newspaper, Corriere della Sera of Milan, said Thursday that "at least 15 persons have been under investigation for months."

Another paper, Il Giorno, reported that all 15 were CIA employees. One source told the Tribune that the police are satisfied that they know the identities of those who carried out the abduction, and that Spataro is now trying to determine at what level the action was approved. <snip>

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/politics/10984603.htm?1c

[Moderator]

1. kick to combine threads

[emad]

2. Italy probes possible CIA role in abduction

Chicago Trib
Milan case spurs dogged prosecutor

By John Crewdson
Tribune senior correspondent
Published February 25, 2005


WASHINGTON -- An Italian prosecutor investigating the apparent kidnapping of a suspected Islamic militant in the streets of Milan served military authorities this week with a demand for records of flights into and out of a joint U.S.-Italian air base in northern Italy.

Italian newspapers have reported that the prosecutor, Armando Spataro, is investigating the possible role of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency in the disappearance of Osama Nasr Mostafa Hassan, better known as Abu Omar, a popular figure in Milan's Islamic community who vanished Feb. 17, 2003.

Spataro, a chief prosecutor in Milan, said by phone Thursday that "I can confirm only that yesterday I went to Aviano," as the air base is known. "We have an investigation," he added, "but it's secret."

Bruno Megele, a top anti-terrorist police investigator who reportedly accompanied Spataro, declined to speak about the visit, which Italian newspapers described as unprecedented.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0502250206feb25,1,5595781.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true

[gWbush is Mabus]

3. Italy probes possible CIA role in abduction

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=2027&ncid=2027&e=5&u=/chitribts/20050225/ts_chicagotrib/italyprobespossibleciaroleinabduction

more CIA kidnappings and torture


An Italian prosecutor investigating the apparent kidnapping of a suspected Islamic militant in the streets of Milan served military authorities this week with a demand for records of flights into and out of a joint U.S.-Italian air base in northern Italy.
Italian newspapers have reported that the prosecutor, Armando Spataro, is investigating the possible role of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (news - web sites) in the disappearance of Osama Nasr Mostafa Hassan, better known as Abu Omar, a popular figure in Milan's Islamic community who vanished Feb. 17, 2003.
Spataro, a chief prosecutor in Milan, said by phone Thursday that "I can confirm only that yesterday I went to Aviano," as the air base is known. "We have an investigation," he added, "but it's secret."
Bruno Megele, a top anti-terrorist police investigator who reportedly accompanied Spataro, declined to speak about the visit, which Italian newspapers described as unprecedented.

[Just Me]

4. Wow! Shit.

This is really something. The Italians investigating the possibility that our CIA was involved. :wow:

[Last Lemming]

5. Holland

needs to take a lookas well re: recent assassination

[Roland99]

6. I was thinking, well, it says "possible" but then there's this...

The newspaper La Repubblica reported last week that some targets of the investigation worked for the CIA. The leading Italian newspaper, Corriere della Sera of Milan, said Thursday that "at least 15 persons have been under investigation for months."

Another paper, Il Giorno, reported that all 15 were CIA employees. One source told the Tribune that the police are satisfied that they know the identities of those who carried out the abduction, and that Spataro is now trying to determine at what level the action was approved.


Apparently they have some decent evidence, eh?

[realFedUp]

7. sooooo, I guess Italy frowns on kidnapping and smuggling across borders?

:eyes: