Draft sign-up foes file suit

The American Civil Liberties Union field suit Thursday seeking to strike down President Carter's draft registration plan on grounds it discriminates against women. The class-action suit was field in US District Court for the District of Columbia in the name of 16 young men affected by the registration law.

Final congressional approval was given the bill on Wednesday and it is expected to be signed by President Carter shortly.

Registration for a possible future draft by about 4 million young men born in 1960 and 1961 is slated to begin at 34,000 US post offices next month. Failure to register is a felony and carries maximum penalties of a $10,000 fine and five-year imprisonment or both.

"This lawsuit arises out of our general opposition to draft registration," said ACLU director Ira Glasser "We think that this lawsuit is now the best ay to stop draft registration entirely."

Another pending suit, a nine-year old sex discrimination challenge to the draft which originated during the Vietnam war, is scheduled to go to trial next Tuesday in Pennsylvania, and the matter could be resolved there.