Story Highlights • Italy blocks trial of CIA agents over alleged kidnapping of Muslim cleric

• Constitutional court asked to annul the trial, the Italian Justice Ministry says

• Osama Nasr Mostafa Hassan allegedly kidnapped in 2003

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ROME, Italy (CNN) -- The Italian government has moved to block the trial of 26 Americans, mostly CIA agents, in connection with the alleged kidnapping of a Muslim cleric more than four years ago.

Italy's constitutional court is being asked to annul the trial, scheduled to start June 8, the Italian Justice Ministry told CNN on Thursday.

The case was considered largely symbolic because none of the Americans is in custody in Italy and the Italian government has not asked for their extradition to Italy.

Thirty-five people have been charged in the case -- 26 Americans and six Italians would stand trial for kidnapping and three Italians would stand trial on a charge of complicity. All were indicted last month.

The proceedings revolve around the alleged kidnapping of Osama Nasr Mostafa Hassan, an Egyptian-born Muslim cleric, also known as Abu Omar, in February 2003.

At the time of his disappearance, Milan prosecutors were investigating him for alleged links to terrorism.

Prosecutors allege that a CIA team working with Italian intelligence officials seized him, eventually flying him to Egypt, and used torture as part of an interrogation there.

In an earlier interview, former CIA analyst Michael Scheuer said the Italian military secret service had approved the operation, and CIA sources who refused to be named told CNN in 2005 that the agency had briefed and sought approval from its Italian counterpart for such an abduction.

But the Italian government of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has vigorously denied having authorized Hassan's kidnapping, which it called illegal.

Human rights groups condemn the practice known as "extraordinary rendition," saying suspects have often been sent by the U.S. to countries that practice torture.

Washington acknowledges making secret "rendition" transfers of terror suspects between countries, but denies using torture itself or handing suspects over to countries that do so.