Sept 11 detainees to sue Attorney General

Civil rights lawyers in the US have said they planned to sue US Attorney General John Ashcroft and other officials, alleging widespread abuse of Middle Eastern men detained on immigration violations after September 11.

A draft copy of the class action lawsuit - expected to be filed in federal court today - alleges the plaintiffs have been subjected to unreasonable and excessively harsh conditions even though they have never been charged with a crime.