Iraqi minorities caught in tug of war over land BASHIQA, Iraq -- Kurdish forces have detained Murad Kashtu al Asi three times in the isolated district of Sinjar in Nineveh province.

First, they beat him and accused him of being a terrorist and a member of the Iraqi Islamic Party, a mostly Sunni Arab political party. The second time, they detained him for several hours, al Asi said. The third time, they hit him in the face with gun butts.

"If you leave alive this time, then work with us or we will kill you," he said his captors told him. He was held six days and released Sunday after U.S. forces intervened on his behalf, he said.

The Kurds never charged al Asi with a crime and even called him "brother." His offense: working with an Arab party in territory that the Kurds covet.

"We don't want you to be with Arabs anymore.