An Italian judge has convicted 23 Americans and two Italians for kidnapping an Egyptian terror suspect.

Those who were convicted were a part of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency's extraordinary renditions programme.  The case marked the first time that employees of the CIA were ever tried in the court of another country.

The Italian court ruled the group kidnapped Abu Omar in Milan in 2003. He was moved to Egypt, where Omar claims he was tortured.

Sabrina De Sousa is a former U.S. State Department employee and is one of those who were convicted.

"I was assigned as a representative of this government and I should have been protected," she explained. "We have set a precedent for allies, foes, friends, anyone to convict our officers overseas or indict them for whatever they feel like indicting them on.

De Sousa is suing the state department over the case. Omar is awaiting trial in Egypt.