Blackwater dispute continues

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Source: CCTV.com | 09-21-2007 11:36

A picture released by the Iraqi Prime Minister's office shows Iraqi premier Nuri al-Maliki addressing reporters in Baghdad. Maliki on Wednesday called on the US authorities to replace private security operator Blackwater after a deadly shootout involving the firm's guards in Baghdad.(AFP photo)

In Iraq, a lawyer is disputing an incident involving the US security firm Blackwater, which left him injured and 11 people dead last Sunday. Contrary to Blackwater's version of events, the lawyer says the US security guards were not under fire when they started shooting.

The Iraqi lawyer, Hassan Jabir, said he was stuck in a traffic jam near Nisoor Square in western Baghdad. There, he saw a US convoy of armored vehicles and black SUVs parked near an intersection, apparently following an explosion.

Jabir denies the convoy came under attack. He claims the American guards started shooting to disperse more than two dozen cars.

Hassan Jabir said, "Nobody shot at them and nobody attacked them. They just started shooting at people at random. Many people died right there in the street."

Blackwater officials say their employees acted lawfully and appropriately. Blackwater claims they were responding to an armed attack against a US State Department convoy.

On Wednesday, Iraqi President Al-Maliki disputed Blackwater's version of events. He said the government would not tolerate the cold-blooded killing of its citizens.

The incident has angered Iraqis. They are blaming US forces for the violence ravaging their country. And they are backing the government's announcement to ban Blackwater from Iraq.

The US State Department has announced that a joint US-Iraqi commission will be set up to investigate incident.