Region | Iraq
Blackwater's Iraq contract to be renewed
Controversial contractor, Blackwater, will get a renewed contract for providing security in Iraq, a US official says.
- Agencies
- Published: 09:39 April 5, 2008
- Image Credit: Gulf News Archive
- A shooting incident involving Blackwater last year placed security firms under scrutiny in Iraq, where there are at least 25,000 private security contractors.
Washington: Controversial security contractor, Blackwater, will get a renewed contract for providing security in Iraq, a US official said.
Greg Starr, acting assistant secretary of state for diplomatic security, said that no provisions have been added to the contract but that there will be a review for changes.
Blackwater guards shot and killed 17 Iraqis in September. The guards said they were acting against rebel fire. Iraqi officials said there was indiscriminate firing.
The incident placed the operations of Blackwater and other security firms under scrutiny in Iraq, where there are at least 25,000 private security contractors.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the incident and Starr said the report will influence the US government's decision on the contract with Blackwater.
"The results [of investigation over the September 16 incident] will come out eventually and we will decide how we will proceed," Starr said.
Blackwater's contract is up for renewal next month. Starr said that under an agreement, Blackwater still has to work under the rules of the Iraqi government.
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