NEW YORK, April 17: A lawsuit alleging widespread abuse of hundreds of Middle Eastern men detained on immigration violations in a sweep following the terror attacks of September 11 was filed here Wednesday against US Attorney General John Ashcroft.

Filed in US District Court, the complaint claimed Ashcroft and other law enforcement officials kept numerous Muslim men jailed despite deportation orders.

The complaint alleged plaintiffs and others were kept in custody long after they received departure orders.—AFP