US Blackwater case dismissal "unacceptable": Iraq

January 2, 2010

Iraq expressed anger on Friday with a US federal court ruling that threw out all charges against five Blackwater Worldwide security guards accused of gunning down Iraqi civilians in 2007.
The ruling was "unjust and unacceptable" Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said in a statement, adding that Iraq had started to take steps to sue the private security company, now known as Xe Services.
A federal judge threw out the charges against the guards accused of killing 14 Iraqi civilians in 2007, saying the US government had recklessly violated the defendants' constitutional rights.
Dabbagh called for the ruling to be appealed against. He gave no details on how or where Iraq would take legal action. The Baghdad shooting strained US-Iraqi relations and became a symbol for many Iraqis of foreign disregard for local life.
"The Iraqi government regrets and is disappointed by the US court's decision," Dabbagh said by telephone. After the 2003 invasion, private guards protecting U.S. personnel enjoyed immunity from prosecution in Iraqi courts, but that ended with a bilateral pact that took effect in 2009.
The five guards were charged in a US federal court a year ago with 14 counts of manslaughter, 20 counts of attempt to commit manslaughter and one weapons violation count.
General Ray Odierno, commander of US troops in Iraq, echoed the Iraqi government's displeasure.