Reply #5: Blackwater License Being Pulled in Iraq

[ProSense]

Blackwater License Being Pulled in Iraq

By BASSEM MROUE
The Associated Press
Monday, September 17, 2007; 7:16 AM

BAGHDAD -- The Interior Ministry said Monday that it was pulling the license of an American security firm allegedly involved in the fatal shooting of civilians during an attack on a U.S. State Department motorcade in Baghdad.

The ministry said it would prosecute any foreign contractors found to have used excessive force in the Sunday incident.

Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul-Karim Khalaf said eight people were killed and 13 were wounded when security contractors working for Blackwater USA opened fire in a predominantly Sunni neighborhood of western Baghdad.

"We have canceled the license of Blackwater and prevented them from working all over Iraqi territory. We will also refer those involved to Iraqi judicial authorities," Khalaf said.

more

Iraq orders halt to US security firm's operations

13 minutes ago

BAGHDAD (AFP) - Iraqi Interior Minister Jawad al-Bolani has ordered the cancellation of the operating licence of US security firm Blackwater after it was involved in a shootout that killed eight people, a senior offical said Monday.

"The interior minister has issued an order to cancel Blackwater's licence and the company is prohibited from operating anywhere in Iraq," interior ministry director of operations Major General Abdel Karim Khalaf told AFP.

"We have opened a criminal investigation against the group who committed the crime."

morre

Iraq vows justice over security contractor killings

37 minutes ago

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq pledged on Monday to punish foreign security contractors involved in an incident in western Baghdad in which 11 people were killed.

An Interior Ministry spokesman said the contractors, working for a U.S. security firm, "opened fire randomly at citizens" on Sunday after mortar rounds landed near their cars.

"We formed a committee to investigate the incident and withdraw the license from this company and also to deliver those who committed this act to the court," Brigadier-General Abdul-Karim Khalaf told Reuters.

The U.S. military said on Sunday security contractors working for the State Department were involved in an incident, but gave no further details.

more