EGYPT: Egyptian Muslim cleric Abu Omar says he wants to testify in Italy

The Muslim cleric at the centre of a kidnapping case against U.S. and Italian intelligence agents, Hassan Mostafa Osama Nasr, known as Abu Omar, says he wants to testify in Italy following his release. After refusing to talk since he was released on February 11 this year, Hassan Mostafa Osama Nasr, known as Abu Omar, finally spoke to the press on Thursday (February 22). Abu Omar, a clerk, was released by the Egyptian authorities on February 11 after being kidnapped by the CIA from Italy and given to the Egyptian Authorities. Abu Omar was kidnapped from a street in Milan in 2003 and was transferred by plane to Egypt. After his release he refused to answer questions to the press. Abu Omar was accused of working with a terrorist organization in 2004 and then was released due to a lack of evidence but was arrested again by the Egyptian Authorities under the Emergency Law. Making a surprise appearance in Egypt on Thursday, Abu Omar said he wanted to go back to Italy to testify. "What I wish for is to stand in front of the court and explain everything to them and proof to them that I am innocent from any accusations," Abu Omar told reporters. Egyptian authorities released Abu Omar earlier this month after holding him since 2003, when he was kidnapped off a Milan street and flown to Egypt. Abu Omar said he was tortured in Egyptian detention, a charge on which the Egyptian authorities have not commented. A Milan judge last week ordered 26 Americans, most believed to be CIA agents, to stand trial with Italian spies for kidnapping the Egyptian cleric and flying him to Egypt, where he says he was tortured. Abu Omar says the Egyptian authorities have banned him from travelling abroad or from speaking to the media. But he turned up at the Alexandria court house, taking reporters and security by surprise, to make an appeal to the Italian authorities to overcome the travel ban. "I am not allowed to travel out of Egypt, but I hope that the Italian government and the Italian justice would take me back to Italy since I am an Italian citizen, carrying the Italian passport and I am a diplomatic refugee. I hope I can return to Italy as soon as possible," Abu Omar said.

ITN Source | February 23, 2007

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