Iraq to refuse licence for US diplomats' security guards
IRAQ will deny a licence to Blackwater Worldwide, the private security firm accused of killing Iraqi civilians while protecting US diplomats, American and Iraqi officials said yesterday.
"The operating permission for the firm Blackwater will not be renewed. Its chance is zero," said Alaa al-Taie, head of the press department at Iraq's Interior Ministry. "It is not acceptable to Iraqis and there are legal points against it, like killing Iraqis with their weapons."
Blackwater protects US diplomats in Iraq under a State Department contract. Iraqi officials have expressed anger with the firm since a 2007 shooting in which Blackwater guards opened fire in traffic, killing at least 14 unarmed Iraqi civilians.
A US embassy official said it was working on finding a new arrangement to cover its security.
He said: "We don't have specifics about dates. We are working with the government of Iraq and our contractors to address the implications of this decision."
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Monday 28 May 2012
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