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September 17, 2007
Blackwater Banned In Iraq After Shootout Leaves Civilians, Cop Dead
Not good:
US security contractor Blackwater has been banned from operating in Iraq, after eight civilians were killed in Baghdad yesterday.
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Yesterday, a US diplomatic convoy came under fire in the Iraqi capital's western al-Yarmukh neighbourhood.
Blackwater members accompanying the convoy returned fire, leaving nine people dead, one of whom was an Iraqi police officer.
All of the other fatalities were civilian bystanders.
Iraqi Brigadier-General, Abdul-Karim Khalaf, confirmed that a mortar had landed close to the convoy and said the US firm had 'opened fire randomly at citizens'.
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And today Iraqi Interior Minister, Jawad al-Bolani, issued an order to cancel Blackwater's licence and prohibit the company from operating anywhere in Iraq.
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A US embassy official only said that security vehicles of the 'Department of State' were involved in an incident near al-Nissur Square.