Italy convicts 22 CIA agents for Milan kidnapping

Twenty-three Americans, 22 of whom are CIA agents, have been convicted in the 2003 kidnapping of Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr, also known as Abu Omar.

The Muslim cleric was abducted in broad daylight from a street in Milan and transported through Germany to Egypt, where he was held and allegedly tortured for four years.

He was eventually released without charges.

Because they had not been extradited from the US to Italy, all 23 accused Americans were tried absentia.

All are expected to appeal the decision.

Also convicted today were two Italian secret agents.

The landmark conviction is the first to involve the CIA's extraordinary rendition program, implemented by the Bush administration as part of the war on terror.

The program allows for the transfer of terror suspects to other countries for interrogation without public trial or due legal process.

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