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http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2007-09-19-iraq-wednesday_N.htm
Iraqi PM disputes U.S. firm's version of shooting
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Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Tuesday, that the Sunday shooting
involving the U.S. security firm Blackwater was "the seventh of its
kind" involving the firm "and these violations should be dealt with."
BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq's prime minister on Wednesday disputed Blackwater
USA's version of a weekend shooting that left at least 11 people
dead, and he declared he would not tolerate "the killing of our
citizens in cold blood."
Land travel by U.S. diplomats and other civilian officials outside
the fortified Green Zone remained suspended for a second day after
Iraqi authorities ordered Blackwater to stop working as an
investigation continues into the Sunday incident.
Americans and Iraqis have offered widely differing accounts of the
Sunday incident, with Blackwater insisting that its guards returned
fire against armed insurgents who were threatening American diplomats.
But The New York Times reported that a preliminary review by Iraq's
Ministry of Interior found that Blackwater security guards fired at a
car when it did not heed a policeman's call to stop, killing a couple
and their infant.
The Times report said Blackwater helicopters also had fired — a
finding the company denies. The Ministry of Defense said 20 Iraqis
were killed, considerably higher than the 11 dead reported before.
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said the Sunday shooting was "the
seventh of its kind" involving Blackwater "and these violations
should be dealt with."
"We will not tolerate the killing of our citizens in cold blood,"
Maliki said. "The work of this company has been stopped in order to
know the reasons."
Maliki said Blackwater's version of the events "is not accurate" and
that U.S. diplomats could use the services of other security companies.
"Our information is that there was a violation,'" he said. "We moved
to form a committee to reveal to the world whether those killed were
armed or innocent."
He said Blackwater "should be held accountable for such a violation."
Blackwater spokeswoman Anne Tyrrell said in a statement late Monday
that "Blackwater's independent contractors acted lawfully and
appropriately in response to a hostile attack in Baghdad on Sunday."
"The 'civilians' reportedly fired upon by Blackwater professionals
were in fact armed enemies and Blackwater personnel returned
defensive fire," she said. "Blackwater regrets any loss of life but
this convoy was violently attacked by armed insurgents, not
civilians, and our people did their job to defend human life."
Hairdresser Suhad Mirza, who witnessed the shooting, said she heard a
"remote explosion sound, then, after about 15 minutes ... sounds of
sirens used by police vehicles and heavy gunfire."
"I saw four-wheel drive vehicles opening fire randomly on people and
other civilian cars in the street," Mirza said. "After five minutes
of that, police and hospital ambulances reached to area to evacuate
casualties."
The Interior Ministry said Monday it had permanently revoked
Blackwater's license and would order its 1,000 personnel to leave the
country. The following day the government rolled back, suggesting the
firm's operations were only suspended pending completion of a joint
U.S.-Iraqi investigation.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, en route to the Middle East,
said Tuesday night that it was too soon to tell what effect the ban
will have on U.S. operations in Iraq. Rice said she has expressed
regret at the loss of life to the Iraqi prime minister.
"I committed to him that we were as interested as the Iraqi
government in having a full investigation into what happened ... and
to working with the Iraqi government to try and make certain that
this sort of thing doesn't happen," Rice said.
Iraqis have long resented the presence of the estimated 48,000
private security contractors — including about 1,000 Blackwater
employees — considering them a mercenary force that runs roughshod
over civilians in their own country.
Blackwater, whose convoys of SUVs careen through the streets with
weapons displayed, has been singled out for much of the criticism.
"Blackwater has a reputation. If you want over-over-the-top, gun-
toting security with high profile and all the bells and whistles,
Blackwater are the people you are going to go with," said James
Sammons, a former Australian Special Air Service commander who now
works for British-based AKE Group that also provides security in Iraq.
He said any civilian killings by Iraqi PM disputes U.S. firm's
version of shooting
Updated 20m ago | Comments 49 | Recommend 6 E-mail | Save | Print
| Subscribe to stories like this
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Tuesday, that the Sunday shooting
involving the U.S. security firm Blackwater was "the seventh of its
kind" involving the firm "and these violations should be dealt with."
Enlarge image Enlarge AFP/Getty Images
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Tuesday, that the Sunday shooting
involving the U.S. security firm Blackwater was "the seventh of its
kind" involving the firm "and these violations should be dealt with."
Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr <EM>"This aggression wouldn't have
happened had it not been for the presence of the occupiers who
brought these companies."</EM>
Reuters
"This aggression wouldn't have happened had it not been for the
presence of the occupiers who brought these companies."
TROUBLED BLACKWATER
Latest: Iraqi PM disputes U.S. firm's version of shooting
Fallout: Iraq firefight leads to contractor scrutiny | U.S. suspends
official travel outside Green Zone | Video
Ban: Iraq seeks to ban contractor after firefight left 8 civilians
dead | Video
Past: 4 Americans die in Blackwater copter incident | Firm chosen
for audit | Families of slain workers sue company
Analyses: Who watches U.S. security firms in Iraq? | Iraq
contractors avoid legal restraints
WAR IN IRAQ
U.S. views: Pace sees improved security | 'Challenging' security
picture persists | Petraeus says security crackdown working
Pullout debate: Dems fail to overcome filibuster | Withdrawal could
deepen crisis | Surge won't work unless troops stay
U.S. military equipment: Marines defend '05 decision on MRAPs | Full
coverage
Life in Iraq: Shortage of Iraqi lawyers no joke | Index
Iraq: Where things stand: Poll: Iraqis see hope drain away |
Democracy's support sinks
U.S. casualties: U.S. death toll surpasses 3,500 | A look at troops
who lost their lives | Graphic: One IED's toll
BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq's prime minister on Wednesday disputed Blackwater
USA's version of a weekend shooting that left at least 11 people
dead, and he declared he would not tolerate "the killing of our
citizens in cold blood."
Land travel by U.S. diplomats and other civilian officials outside
the fortified Green Zone remained suspended for a second day after
Iraqi authorities ordered Blackwater to stop working as an
investigation continues into the Sunday incident.
REVIEW: Iraq firefight leads to contractor scrutiny
REACTION: Official travel outside Green Zone suspended
ANALYSIS: Who watches U.S. security firms in Iraq?
The Moyock, N.C.-based firm is the main provider of bodyguards and
armed escorts for American government civilian employees in Iraq.
U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Mirembe Nantongo said the contractors
involved in the shooting are still in Iraq, but she refused to
comment on the specifics of the case pending an investigation.
FIND MORE STORIES IN: Iraq | Prime Minister | Condoleezza Rice |
Maliki | Sadr | Iraqi Prime Minister | Nouri | Ministry of Interior
Americans and Iraqis have offered widely differing accounts of the
Sunday incident, with Blackwater insisting that its guards returned
fire against armed insurgents who were threatening American diplomats.
But The New York Times reported that a preliminary review by Iraq's
Ministry of Interior found that Blackwater security guards fired at a
car when it did not heed a policeman's call to stop, killing a couple
and their infant.
The Times report said Blackwater helicopters also had fired — a
finding the company denies. The Ministry of Defense said 20 Iraqis
were killed, considerably higher than the 11 dead reported before.
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said the Sunday shooting was "the
seventh of its kind" involving Blackwater "and these violations
should be dealt with."
"We will not tolerate the killing of our citizens in cold blood,"
Maliki said. "The work of this company has been stopped in order to
know the reasons."
Maliki said Blackwater's version of the events "is not accurate" and
that U.S. diplomats could use the services of other security companies.
"Our information is that there was a violation,'" he said. "We moved
to form a committee to reveal to the world whether those killed were
armed or innocent."
He said Blackwater "should be held accountable for such a violation."
Blackwater spokeswoman Anne Tyrrell said in a statement late Monday
that "Blackwater's independent contractors acted lawfully and
appropriately in response to a hostile attack in Baghdad on Sunday."
"The 'civilians' reportedly fired upon by Blackwater professionals
were in fact armed enemies and Blackwater personnel returned
defensive fire," she said. "Blackwater regrets any loss of life but
this convoy was violently attacked by armed insurgents, not
civilians, and our people did their job to defend human life."
Hairdresser Suhad Mirza, who witnessed the shooting, said she heard a
"remote explosion sound, then, after about 15 minutes ... sounds of
sirens used by police vehicles and heavy gunfire."
"I saw four-wheel drive vehicles opening fire randomly on people and
other civilian cars in the street," Mirza said. "After five minutes
of that, police and hospital ambulances reached to area to evacuate
casualties."
The Interior Ministry said Monday it had permanently revoked
Blackwater's license and would order its 1,000 personnel to leave the
country. The following day the government rolled back, suggesting the
firm's operations were only suspended pending completion of a joint
U.S.-Iraqi investigation.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, en route to the Middle East,
said Tuesday night that it was too soon to tell what effect the ban
will have on U.S. operations in Iraq. Rice said she has expressed
regret at the loss of life to the Iraqi prime minister.
"I committed to him that we were as interested as the Iraqi
government in having a full investigation into what happened ... and
to working with the Iraqi government to try and make certain that
this sort of thing doesn't happen," Rice said.
Iraqis have long resented the presence of the estimated 48,000
private security contractors — including about 1,000 Blackwater
employees — considering them a mercenary force that runs roughshod
over civilians in their own country.
Blackwater, whose convoys of SUVs careen through the streets with
weapons displayed, has been singled out for much of the criticism.
"Blackwater has a reputation. If you want over-over-the-top, gun-
toting security with high profile and all the bells and whistles,
Blackwater are the people you are going to go with," said James
Sammons, a former Australian Special Air Service commander who now
works for British-based AKE Group that also provides security in Iraq.
He said any civilian killings by security contractors tarnish the
reputations of all of them.
"We get lumped in with that and it makes the job harder for the rest
of us," said Sammons, who is AKE's Asia-Pacific regional director,
based in Sydney, Australia.
The Iraqi Cabinet decided Tuesday to review the status of all foreign
security companies. Still, it was unclear how the dispute would play
out, given the government's need to appear resolute in defending
national sovereignty while maintaining its relationship with
Washington at a time when U.S. public support for the mission is
faltering.
Nevertheless, some Iraqi officials said privately it would be
difficult to order Blackwater out of the country because the
Americans rely so heavily on the company for their security.
"It will be difficult for the Iraqi government to make them leave the
country because they protect the embassy," said one aide to Maliki.
"Maybe they will make a commitment that they study their moves" or
agree to change the name of the company.
The aide spoke on condition of anonymity because the issue is so
sensitive.
Anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr demanded that the government ban
all 48,000 foreign security contractors.
Sadr's office in Najaf said the government should nullify contracts
of all foreign security companies, branding them "criminal and
intelligence firms."
"This aggression would not have happened had it not been for the
presence of the occupiers who brought these companies, most of whose
members are criminals and ex-convicts in American and Western
prisons," the firebrand cleric said in a statement.
Sadr insisted the government prosecute those involved and ensure that
families of the victims receive compensation but did not threaten to
unleash his Mahdi Army militia in retaliation for the killings.
Blackwater is among three private security firms employed by the
State Department to protect employees in Iraq, and expelling it would
create huge problems for U.S. government operations in this country.
A 2004 regulation issued by the U.S. occupation authority granted
security contractors full immunity from prosecution under Iraqi law.
Unlike American military personnel, the civilian contractors are also
not subject to U.S. military law either.
Hassan al-Rubaie, a member of the parliament's Security and Defense
Committee, said an investigative committee has been formed to
consider lifting the contractors' immunity.
Blackwater and other foreign contractors accused of killing Iraqi
citizens have gone without facing charges or prosecution in the past.
But the latest incident drew a much stronger reaction by the Iraqi
government.
Also Wednesday, the U.S. military said an American soldier was killed
Tuesday in an attack in southern Baghdad. The death raised to at
least 3,787 members of the U.S. military who have died since the war
started in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
security contractors tarnish the reputations of all of them.
"We get lumped in with that and it makes the job harder for the rest
of us," said Sammons, who is AKE's Asia-Pacific regional director,
based in Sydney, Australia.
The Iraqi Cabinet decided Tuesday to review the status of all foreign
security companies. Still, it was unclear how the dispute would play
out, given the government's need to appear resolute in defending
national sovereignty while maintaining its relationship with
Washington at a time when U.S. public support for the mission is
faltering.
Nevertheless, some Iraqi officials said privately it would be
difficult to order Blackwater out of the country because the
Americans rely so heavily on the company for their security.
"It will be difficult for the Iraqi government to make them leave the
country because they protect the embassy," said one aide to Maliki.
"Maybe they will make a commitment that they study their moves" or
agree to change the name of the company.
The aide spoke on condition of anonymity because the issue is so
sensitive.
Anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr demanded that the government ban
all 48,000 foreign security contractors.
Sadr's office in Najaf said the government should nullify contracts
of all foreign security companies, branding them "criminal and
intelligence firms."
"This aggression would not have happened had it not been for the
presence of the occupiers who brought these companies, most of whose
members are criminals and ex-convicts in American and Western
prisons," the firebrand cleric said in a statement.
Sadr insisted the government prosecute those involved and ensure that
families of the victims receive compensation but did not threaten to
unleash his Mahdi Army militia in retaliation for the killings.
Blackwater is among three private security firms employed by the
State Department to protect employees in Iraq, and expelling it would
create huge problems for U.S. government operations in this country.
A 2004 regulation issued by the U.S. occupation authority granted
security contractors full immunity from prosecution under Iraqi law.
Unlike American military personnel, the civilian contractors are also
not subject to U.S. military law either.
Hassan al-Rubaie, a member of the parliament's Security and Defense
Committee, said an investigative committee has been formed to
consider lifting the contractors' immunity.
Blackwater and other foreign contractors accused of killing Iraqi
citizens have gone without facing charges or prosecution in the past.
But the latest incident drew a much stronger reaction by the Iraqi
government.
Also Wednesday, the U.S. military said an American soldier was killed
Tuesday in an attack in southern Baghdad. The death raised to at
least 3,787 members of the U.S. military who have died since the war
started in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. =
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