Attorneys for one of the leaders of the war protests during the Republican National Convention in St. Paul is filing a federal suit alleging that he was hit at close range by a projectile fired by police during a demonstration on Sept. 4.

The suit will also allege that Mick Kelly, 51, of Minneapolis, was falsely arrested shortly afterwards in a sit-in at the corner of 12th Street and Cedar Avenue.

Kelly sustained a large bruise on his stomach, Tom Dooley, one of Kelly's attorneys, said, but it was not a permanent injury.

Dooley said a notice of claim that outlines the allegations was given to the news media and was to be mailed on Friday to the defendants: the cities of St. Paul, Minneapolis and Bloomington and the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office, all of whom had officers at the scene.

"We are confident that all of the facts will support our police, that the police acted appropriately in this case," said John Choi, St. Paul city attorney.

RANDY FURST