US forces today released Sheikh Hatem Assy al-Obeidi, a chief of one of the country's largest tribes, who had been suspected of involvement in attacks on strategic oil and power lines around the northern city of Kirkuk, his brother said. "Sheikh Hatem Assy was freed this morning after having spent 56 days in detention in the coalition force's prison," said Answar Assy. "All charges and accusations against my brother were proven to be unfounded."
| "Yez got nuttin' on him, coppers! Nuttin', I tell yez!" |
The tribal chief was detained in late August, after bomb-making equipment and a large amount of small arms were found in his village.
| "Well... That. Yes. But other than that, nuttin'!" |
His detention brought to a climax a bitter dispute between the US forces and the sheikh about whether he was living up to his commitments to guard fuel and power lines, under a contract he had signed with the army in July. |