[JURIST] Italian Judge Oscar Magi on Wednesday ordered the continuation of the trial of 26 Americans [JURIST news archive] and several former Italian intelligence officials for the 2003 abduction and rendition [JURIST news archive] of Egyptian cleric Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr [JURIST news archive]. Magi suspended [JURIST report] the trial in October pending a ruling from the Constitutional Court of Italy [official website] on a petition [JURIST report] filed by the Italian government to dismiss all charges against the defendants. Magi resumed the trial after months of inaction from the high court, saying that the continuation of the trial will not harm the defense in any way.

Nasr, also known as Abu Omar, was seized on the streets of Milan by CIA agents with the help of Italy's Military Intelligence and Security Service. He was then allegedly transferred to Egypt and turned over to Egypt's State Security Intelligence, where he said he was tortured before being released [JURIST reports] in February 2007. The 26 Americans, most of whom are CIA agents, are being tried in absentia. Reuters has more.