Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr, known as Abu Omar, was snatched from Milan in 2003
A former CIA station chief convicted by an Italian court of kidnapping a terror suspect has been detained in Panama, Italian officials say.
Robert Seldon Lady was sentenced to nine years in jail for his involvement in the abduction of the man, an Egyptian cleric, in Milan in 2003.
The cleric, known as Abu Omar, was allegedly flown to Egypt and tortured.
Lady was convicted in absentia with 22 other Americans for their role in his "extraordinary rendition".
But the Italian authorities have so far only sought the international arrest of the former Milan station chief, Italian media say.
The CIA said it had no immediate comment on the arrest, while Panamanian officials have so far denied knowledge of the detention.
Panama and Italy do not have an extradition treaty, so it is unclear if Lady will be sent to Italy to serve his prison sentence.
Comment: It has been publicly known since 2004 that the US government secretly, illegally, and unconstitutionally spies on its citizens. As Congress and the federal courts have done nothing so far, is seems unlikely that much will come of this debate.
What is the U.S. government's agenda?
The NSA whistleblower from EIGHT years ago: Interview with Russell Tice