Trial of CIA agents suspended

MILAN, Italy, June 18 (UPI) -- A trial in Milan of U.S. and Italian intelligence agents accused of kidnapping a Muslim cleric has been suspended until at least Oct. 24.

The trial was suspended while the Italian Constitutional Court considers whether prosecutors are unnecessarily exposing Italian agents and straining ties between Italy and the United States, the Italian news agency ANSA reported.

The trial has focused attention on the United States' policy of "extraordinary rendition," in which suspected terrorists apprehended in one country are taken to another with fewer civil liberties protections for questioning.

Prosecutors charge that CIA agents kidnapped cleric Hassan Mustafa Omar Nasr in Milan in 2003. He was taken to Egypt for questioning.

Twenty-six CIA agents are being tried in absentia as the CIA has declined to send them to Italy for the trial. Two leaders of the Italian intelligence agency are also on trial.

The Italian government has challenged the prosecution, saying prosecutors have overstepped their constitutional bounds, ANSA reported.