Iraqi investigators have a videotape that shows Blackwater USA guards opened fire against civilians without provocation in a shooting last week that left 11 people dead, a senior Iraqi official said, adding that the case has been referred to the Iraqi courts.
Iraq's president, meanwhile, demanded on Saturday that the Americans release an Iranian arrested this week on suspicion of smuggling weapons to Shi'ite militias. The demand adds new strains to US-Iraqi relations only days before a meeting between US President George W. Bush and Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
Interior Ministry spokesman Major General Abdul-Karim Khalaf said Iraqi authorities had completed an investigation into the September 16 shooting in Nisoor Square in western Baghdad and concluded that Blackwater guards were responsible for the deaths.
He said the conclusion was based on witness statements as well as videotape shot by cameras at the nearby headquarters of the national police command. He said eight people were killed at the scene and three of the 15 wounded died in hospitals.
Blackwater, which provides most of the security for US diplomats and civilian officials in Iraq, has insisted that its guards came under fire from armed insurgents and shot back only to defend themselves.
Blackwater spokeswoman Anne Tyrrell said on Saturday that she knew nothing about the videotape and was contractually prohibited from discussing details of the shooting.
Khalaf also said the ministry was looking into six other fatal shootings involving the Moyock, North Carolina-based company in which 10 Iraqis were killed and 15 wounded. Among the shootings was one February 7 outside Iraqi state television in Baghdad that killed three building guards.
"These six cases will support the case against Blackwater, because they show that it has a criminal record," Khalaf said.
Khalaf said the report was "sent to the judiciary" although he would not specify whether that amounted to filing of criminal charges. Under Iraqi law, an investigating judge reviews criminal complaints and decides whether there is enough evidence for a trial.
Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh denied that authorities had decided to file charges against the Blackwater guards and said on Saturday that no decision had been taken whether to seek punishment.
It is doubtful that foreign security contractors could be prosecuted under Iraqi law. A directive issued by US occupation authorities in 2004 granted contractors, US troops and many other foreign officials immunity from prosecution under Iraqi law.
Security contractors are also not subject to US military law under which US troopers face prosecution for killing or abusing Iraqis.
Arms smuggling denied
Blackwater denied on Saturday it was involved in illegally shipping automatic weapons and military goods to Iraq.
The statement by the company came after a newspaper report that federal officials were investigating whether Blackwater exported unlicensed military hardware into Iraq.
"Allegations that Blackwater was in any way associated or complicit in unlawful arms activities are baseless. The company has no knowledge of any employee improperly exporting weapons," the company said in a statement.
The News & Observer of Raleigh, North Carolina, reported that two former Blackwater employees had pleaded guilty in Greenville, North Carolina, to weapons charges and were cooperating with the federal investigation.
The newspaper also quoted two unidentified sources as saying federal officials were probing whether Blackwater was shipping weapons, night-vision scopes, armor, gun kits and other military goods to Iraq without the required permits.
Source: China Daily/agencies
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