The Game is a protege of rap star 50 Cent

The policemen say they were libelled and slandered by the rap star, 26, in a television interview where he compared his treatment to that of Rodney King.

King was a motorist whose beating by police officers was a major factor in triggering the 1992 Los Angeles riots.

The Game was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest in a North Carolina mall in 2005.

'Brutalised by police'

The rapper - real name Jayceon Taylor - was wearing a full-face Halloween mask, cursing loudly, and refused to leave at their request, police said.

Police also used pepper spray on a group of his friends after they surrounded officers in a threatening manner.

But the rapper told a television station he was "arrested for signing autographs".

The police officers' legal action also takes issue with a DVD containing footage of the arrest, which was filmed by a member of The Game's entourage.

They say a website promoting the DVD claims it shows the rapper "being wrongfully arrested and brutalised by the police".

Officers Hien Nguyen, Matthew Brown, Ryan Childrey, Romaine Watkins and David Gregory are each seeking more than $10,000 (�5,200) in damages.