Iraqis angered by renewal of Blackwater contract

Iraqis expressed anger at news the United States had renewed the contract of Blackwater, a mercenary firm blamed for killing up to 17 people in a shooting incident last year. "Renewing this contract means we will see this sort of thing again in the streets," Abbas Hasoun, a grocer, said. "I wish we could turn the page on this, but keeping this company here means bloodshed will continue." According to Iraqi officials, Blackwater guards shot and killed 17 people -- including women and children -- on Sept. 16 at Baghdad's Nusoor Square. Survivors and victims' family members allege Blackwater guards started shooting without provocation, but Blackwater said armed insurgents attacked its guards. An Iraqi probe accused the guards of committing "premeditated murder." The FBI is also investigating. In spite of the criminal probe, the US State Department announced on Apr. 4 that the firm's contract to protect US personnel in Baghdad would be renewed. "These companies should be removed from the country. They don't deserve to stay here a moment. They committed massacres and killed innocent people," said Naseer Kahdim, a soldier checking cars a few hundred meters from the site of the shooting. The government's political opponents accused it of failing to enact measures that would control foreign security firms. "So far we haven't passed laws governing the work of foreign companies. The government should have shown its influence and authority by taking the initiative," said Saleem al-Jubouri, spokesman for the mainly Sunni Arab Accordance Front bloc. "But the Americans want to show that Iraq is under their control. It's a violation of the Iraqi judicial system." Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki blasted the US State Department for renewing its contract with Blackwater, saying the company has yet to answer for what he called the "massacre" last year. The Iraqi government was not consulted on the State Department decision, he said. "No judicial action has been taken and no compensation has been made," Maliki said on Apr. 6. "Therefore, this extension requires the approval of the Iraqi government, and the government would want to resolve the outstanding issues with this company." Maliki said that the renewal of Blackwater's contract isn't final "because they committed a massacre against Iraqis and until now this matter has not been resolved." About 25,000 private contractors protect diplomats, reconstruction workers and government officials in Iraq. Under a provision put in place early during the US-led occupation of Iraq, security contractors have immunity from Iraqi prosecution. The State Department signed a five-year contract with Blackwater in 2006. The deal must be reviewed every year, and is up for renewal next month. Greg Starr, acting assistant secretary of state for diplomatic security, essentially said last week that Blackwater's contract will be renewed.