Two U.S. human rights groups on March 1, 2005 sued Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, saying he first authorized and then failed to stop torture of prisoners in Iraq  and Afghanistan. The American Civil Liberties Union  and Human Rights First filed suit Rumsfeld testifies on the Bush administration's proposed 2006 defense budget before the Senate Armed Services Committee, in Washington February 17, 2005. (Photo: Reuters)

WASHINGTON, March 1 (Xinhuanet) -- US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was named in a lawsuit filed Tuesday by two human rights groups, in which he was accused of authorizing and failed to stop torture of prisoners in Iraq and Afghanistan.

    The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Human Rights First filed the suit in federal court in Chicago, Illinois, Rumsfeld's home state. The suit was filed on behalf of four Iraqisand four Afghans.

    The eight former detainees said they were severely tortured, including repeated beatings, sexual humiliation and mock execution,before they were released without being charged.

    The suit contends that Rumsfeld bears direct responsibility forthe torture because he personally authorized unlawful interrogation techniques and then ignored the overwhelming evidence that his policies had resulted in widespread abuse.

    The Pentagon issued a statement to "vigorously dispute any assertion or implication that the Department of Defense approved of, sanctioned, or condoned as a matter of policy detainee abuse."

    After the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal became public last year, Rumsfeld was blamed for failing to respond quickly to internal investigations over the abuse issue. Some called for his resignation, but President George W. Bush offered public support for him.

    The suit argued that although Rumsfeld apologized for the scandal, he has not been held accountable and the victims have notbeen compensated.

    The ACLU filed similar suits against three other senior US officers in Iraq, including Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, former US military commander in Iraq, for their alleged involvement in the Abu Ghraib abuse scandal.

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