The only obstacle was not for investigation but for sending them in prison. If they were in Italy, we could arrest them.

Obviously the law allows for the minister to reject this, so this is legitimate. This decision has arrived five months after the first request. But at least now we have a decision.

It's very strange that our ministry refused to cooperate with this request.

According to our criminal code, someone who helps other people to escape, when there's a warrant or the possibility of a warrant, is responsible for a crime.

There is no consular immunity that would prevent a trial from going ahead. A trial can even be held in absentia.

Kidnapping Abu Omar was not only a crime against the state of Italy, but also it did great damage to the war on terrorism. We could have continued the investigation and found evidence on other people. He would be on trial by now.