Groups file suit over government power to kill American terrorists

[The Northerner]

Source: CNN

Washington (CNN) -- Two major civil liberties groups filed a lawsuit on Tuesday challenging the government's asserted authority to kill U.S. citizens living abroad who are designated as terrorists.

The American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Constitutional Rights announced they represent the father of influential Islamic cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, believed to be living in Yemen, who may be targeted by U.S. government drones.

U.S. officials believe al-Awlaki, a Yemeni-American, influenced Maj. Nidal Hasan, the man accused of killing 13 people in the 2009 Fort Hood shootings, and played a more active role in Umar Farouk Abdul-Mutallab's attempted bombing of a U.S. airliner on Christmas Day 2009.

Officials also believe al-Awlaki inspired Faisal Shahzad, who has pleaded guilty to federal terrorism charges in the attempted car bomb attack in Times Square in May, as well as several others.

The ACLU and CCR announced the challenge to the government's plan to use lethal force against U.S. citizens "located far from any battlefield without charge, trial, or judicial process of any kind," a statement from the groups said.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/08/03/lawsuit.american.terrorists/