Attorneys Petition for Detainee's Release

[Khephra]

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Attorneys for a man being held in a Navy brig filed a court petition Friday arguing the Bush administration should present evidence that he's an "enemy combatant" or release him.

In the petition filed in Charleston federal court, attorneys argue that Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri is a civilian and not an al-Qaida sleeper agent, as the government says, and is therefore being held illegally.

The attorneys also say the court should allow them to meet with al-Marri and prohibit the government from interrogating him any further.

Al-Marri is a graduate of Bradley University and a former resident of West Peoria, Ill. He's been in federal custody since January 2002 and was taken under military control and moved to a Navy brig in Charleston in June 2003 when designated an enemy combatant.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-terror-suspect,0,7898259.story?coll=sns-ap-nation-headlines