A spokeswoman for Blackwater Worldwide said the U.S. private security company supports "stringent accountability" if any wrongdoing by its guards is found, but she said little else in response to a news report that the FBI has found the killing of at least 14 Iraqi civilians on Sept. 16 was unjustified.
The FBI investigation into the shooting of Iraqi civilians by the security contractors, who were guarding a U.S. embassy convoy in Baghdad's Nisoor Square, is still underway, but The New York Times reported Wednesday that the U.S. Justice Department is already reviewing the findings.
A helicopter operated by Blackwater, a private security contractor, flies over central Baghdad. The FBI has found the company's agents were unjustified in killing 14 Iraqi civilians in September, a news report Wednesday said.
Citing unnamed civilian and military officials briefed on the case, the newspaper said the shootings of 14 of the 17 slain Iraqi civilians were found to be unjustified and violated laws governing the use of deadly force.
Under U.S. firearms rules, the contractors are only allowed to use lethal force in response to an "imminent threat of deadly force or serious physical injury" to them or those under their protection.
The FBI found that three of the Iraqis killed might have been perceived to be a threat, the newspaper reports.
Two of them were in a white Kia sedan that moved toward the square once traffic had been stopped to allow the convoy through. The third person was an unidentified man who was killed nearby, the Times reports.
The Times also reported that investigators found as many as five guards opened fire during the shooting, but one became the focus of the probe because that guard was responsible for several deaths.
An earlier military review came to a harsher conclusion that all the killings were unjustified and potentially criminal.
Blackwater spokeswoman Anne Tyrrell responded to the report by saying the company "supports the stringent accountability of the industry."
"If it is determined that one person was complicit in the wrongdoing, we would support accountability in that. The key people in this have not spoken with investigators," she said.
She added that the company will withhold further comment until the findings are made public.
A U.S. government official told the Associated Press that no conclusions have been reached about the fatalities.
Blackwater has defended its guards' actions, saying the convoy was attacked before they opened fire, but the Iraqi government's investigation found the shootings were unprovoked.
With files from the Associated PressRelated
Internal Links
Video
- Henry Champ reports for CBC-TV (Runs: 3:34)
- Play: Real Media »
- Play: QuickTime »
More World Headlines »
- 'Act of sabotage' adds to France's transit woes
- "A co-ordinated act of sabotage" was reported on France's state-owned rail network Wednesday morning, adding to transportation woes as the country entered the eighth day of a strike that has paralyzed train traffic.
- Bush, Cheney accused of deceit in CIA leak scandal
- Former White House press secretary Scott McClellan blames President George W. Bush and Vice-President Dick Cheney for efforts to mislead the public about the role of White House aides in leaking the identity of a CIA operative.
- 2 tropical storms race toward Southeast Asia
- Two Pacific storms are barrelling toward Southeast Asia, prompting thousands to flee their homes in the Philippines and the Vietnam government to seek help from neighbouring countries.
- Canadian-sponsored human rights resolution against Iran passes
- Iran failed by one vote on Tuesday to stop a Canadian-sponsored UN resolution condemning Iran's 'ongoing systematic violations of human rights.'
- Arbour blames both sides for high Afghan civilian casualties
- The Canadian head of the UN Human Rights Council on Tuesday criticized both Taliban insurgents and international forces for the "alarming levels" of civilian casualties in Afghanistan.
Blog Watch
Most Blogged about CBC.ca Articles