A former senior AMD employee has filed suit accusing the company of 'wrecking his career' because he was an Arab and a Muslim after the September 11 attacks.

Walid Maghribi, ex-president of AMD's memory group, was one of the company's top five employees by salary and bonuses, earning $1.5m-plus last year. He alleges that his tenure as a member of Sanders inner circle ended, following a meeting of top AMD execs when September 11 came up in conversation. At that meeting Sanders was surprised to learn that Maghribi was a Muslim and was born in the Lebanon, Maghribi says in his suit.

From that point on, Maghribi was - he says - treated poorly and as an outcast. He resigned last month, because of the hostile environment, he says.

AMD says it will defend the suit vigorously, a ccording to Reuters (http://www.forbes.com/technology/newmedia/newswire/2002/04/19/rtr576249.html). ®