Al-Maliki wants Blackwater out of Iraq: report
DPA | October 16, 2007
Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has asked the US State Department to 'pull Blackwater out of Iraq' because the private security firm needlessly opened fire and killed Iraqi civilians, CNN reported Tuesday, citing an adviser to al-Maliki.
The adviser, Sami al-Askari, said the Iraqi government has concluded its investigation into the September 16 shooting and are 'completely satisfied' with the findings that the unloading of weapons was unprovoked.
Blackwater security guards protecting a US diplomatic convoy opened fire while travelling through a dangerous Baghdad neighbourhood, killing 17 civilians, Iraqi officials say.
The North Carolina-based security firm said the convoy came under attack from armed militants and the shooting was justified. The US State Department, which hired the company, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are investigating the incident.
