An Italian judge could decide today to make Silvio Berlusconi the first head of a government to testify in criminal proceedings over secret CIA transfers of terrorism suspects.

Judge Oscar Magi is expected to announce his decision on whether to call Berlusconi and other politicians when he resumes a trial today against 26 Americans and seven Italians accused of carrying out a transfer or "rendition" in 2003.

Prosecutors say a CIA-led team kidnapped a Muslim cleric off the streets of Milan and secretly flew him to Egypt.

There, the terrorism suspect, Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr, says he was tortured under questioning and held for years without charge.

Berlusconi, who began his third term as premier last week, was prime minister when Nasr disappeared and has defended the Italian spy agency against accusations of wrongdoing.

A strong ally of US President George W. Bush, Berlusconi denied knowledge of any kidnapping plan but has also opposed the trial by arguing it could hurt Italy's reputation in the global intelligence community.

"This is a trial that shouldn't happen," Berlusconi said in 2007, when the agents were indicted.

"The risk is that Italian secret agents won't ever be able to collaborate with other intelligence agencies again".

Italy's former spy chief, Gen. Nicolo Pollari, wants Berlusconi and other past officials - including former prime minister Romano Prodi - to testify about classified documents he says prove he had nothing to do with a rendition.

"Berlusconi always defended Pollari in public because he knows about these documents, classified as state secrets," Pollari's lawyer Titta Madia said, adding his client believed 88 such documents exist.

Agencies

(China Daily 05/14/2008 page10)