London: A leading US-based financial company is being sued by a former employee at its London office on the charge that his fellow workers repeatedly called him Osama bin Laden and a terrorist.

Thirty-two-year-old Mohammed Khan of Pakistani origin is suing Citigroup, alleging that managers joined in the racist and anti-Islamic abuse he suffered for 18 months.

He claimed the prejudice in a London office of the US-based financial giant led him being unfairly sacked from his 55,000-Pounds a year job as an equities trader.

Citigroup has said it is investigating but has rejected all his charges.

"Citigroup takes any allegation of race discrimination very seriously and we take action consistent with our position as an equal opportunities employer," the company said in a statement.

The case is expected to be heard by an employment tribunal within months.

Khan joined the company in April 2002. He claimed after a month a worker called him Osama bin Laden. Later, another worker apparently said to Khan, whose parents are from Pakistan, "Why don't you go back to Karachi".

Khan, a Cambridge graduate, claimed that in September a colleague told him, "You terrorist, Osama bin Laden, don't worry we will take you on." One manager allegedly told him, "I have a severe bullying stream in me".

Khan claimed that people at the company were openly dismissive of employment equality.

In March, a manager allegedly called him a terrorist, saying, "Are you a sleeper? Don't worry we will put you down."

In November, Khan was told he was being made redundant because of "poor performance".

He claimed he had been one of the highest revenue earners in his team, and had received pay rises for good performance twice in the preceding year.

"The applicant believes that this reason was fabricated to conceal the fact that he was dismissed on the grounds of his race, religion or ethnic origin," according to Khan's statement.