American captured in Syria has asked for lawyer

WASHINGTON – The US government is acknowledging that it has detained an American citizen accused of fighting with the Islamic State for more than two months without fulfilling his request to see a lawyer.

In response to a court order, the government said Thursday that the unidentified man picked up on the Syrian battlefield said he was willing to talk to FBI agents but "felt he should have an attorney present."

The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a court petition to provide legal counsel to the detainee, saying he is being held in Iraq in a legal "black hole" without access to counsel.

The government is contesting the ACLU's standing in the case.