March 30, 2007	Friday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 10, 1428

ROME: A Muslim cleric is seeking millions of euros in damages from the Italian state, after accusing CIA agents and Italian spies of kidnapping him in Milan and flying him to Egypt for torture.

A lawyer acting for Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr, in his first interview since arriving in Rome on Wednesday from Egypt, said the cleric would prefer to settle out of court but was ready to lodge a civil case. “It is also in the interest of the Italian government to close this case, to close this dark chapter. It's also in the interests of the United States,” Montasser al-Zayat said on Wednesday, speaking through a translator.

He said any eventual settlement would have to be in the millions, not thousands, of euros. He also wanted damages against Washington. “The lawsuit should take place in Italy since that is where the crime was committed, not the United States,” Zayat added.—Reuters