CNN.com - German man files torture case against CIA - Dec 6, 2005

CNN.com - German man files torture case against CIA - Dec 6, 2005: "December 6, 2005; Posted: 10:27 a.m. EST (15:27 GMT)

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A German man filed a lawsuit Tuesday claiming he was held captive and tortured by U.S. government agents after being mistakenly identified as an associate of the September 11 hijackers.

Khaled el-Masri, who is being represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, said he was arrested while attempting to enter Macedonia for a holiday trip and flown to Afghanistan. During five months in captivity he was subjected to 'torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment,' says a lawsuit he filed in U.S. District Court in suburban Alexandria, Virginia.

The suit names as the main defendant former CIA Director George Tenet. In addition to torture, he claims his due process rights were violated and that he was subjected to 'prolonged, arbitrary detention.' He is seeking damages of at least $75,000."