By PHILLIP RAWLS

Associated Press

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The American Civil Liberties Union and Planned Parenthood have filed suit in federal court challenging a new Alabama law placing stricter regulations on abortion clinics.

The suit filed today in Montgomery says the regulations are medically unnecessary and would shut down three of the state's five abortion clinics.

The law requires every physician performing an abortion at a clinic to have staff privileges at a local hospital. The groups say that would force the Planned Parenthood centers in Birmingham and Mobile, and Reproductive Health Services in Montgomery to stop providing abortions.

The law's sponsor, Republican Rep. Mary Sue McClurkin of Indian Springs, says she's surprised the clinics chose to go to court rather than upgrade their facilities.