A New Jersey man detained for months in Ethiopia on allegations of supporting Islamic militants is suing the FBI agents involved in his interrogations.

Amir Mohamed Meshal, of Tinton Falls, claims his constitutional rights were violated by the U.S. government.

Meshal was held nearly four months in Ethiopia, where U.S. agents carried out interrogations in the hunt for al-Qaida in the Horn of Africa.

In his lawsuit, Meshal says he was questioned by FBI agents more than 30 times. He says they threatened to torture, death, and that he was never allowed to talk to an attorney or contact his family.

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He returned to New Jersey in May 2007.

A message left for the State Department on Tuesday was not immediately returned.