Panama Releases Former CIA Station Chief Wanted By Italy For Kidnapping And Rendition

Photo: Robert Seldon Lady

Panama Releases Former CIA Operative Wanted By Italy -- Washington Post

A former CIA operative detained in Panama this week at the request of Italian authorities over his conviction in the 2003 kidnapping of Muslim cleric in Milan was released on Friday morning and was aboard a flight to the United States, U.S. officials said.

Robert Seldon Lady’s release from Panama appeared to avert the possibility that he would be extradited to Italy, where he faces a sentence of up to nine years in prison for his role in the CIA capture of a terrorism suspect who was secretly snatched off a street in Milan and transported to Egypt.

“It’s our understanding that he’s on a plane en route to the United States right now,” a senior Obama administration official said. It was not immediately clear what steps the United States had taken to secure Lady’s release.

The outcome brought a sudden close to a brief diplomatic drama that began Wednesday when Lady was detained by border officials as he entered Panama.

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Update #1: Panama releases ex-CIA station chief in Milan wanted by Italy -- RT
Update #2: How a CIA Officer Wanted for Kidnapping in Italy Ended Up Arrested in Panama -- Foreign Policy

My Comment: I cannot say that I am surprised by this quick release. Panama is not going to jeopardize it's close ties with The U.S. over this case. But what I am surprised about is that he was arrested to begin with .... it seems that no one in Washington is interested in discussing with Italy on what is necessary to have these international warrants lifted.