Blackwater Settles Iraqi Civil Suits

But two former contractors arrested in Afghanistan
By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 7, 2010 3:02 PM CST
Blackwater Settles Iraqi Civil Suits
In this Dec. 9, 2008 file photo, Mohammed Farhan, a relative of Ibrahim Abid, who was killed when guards employed by security company, Blackwater, opened fire at a Baghdad square more than a year ago, visits his grave in Baghdad, Iraq.   (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban, File)

Blackwater—now known as Xe—has settled a group of civil lawsuits with Iraqis that accused the firm of creating a cowboy culture that led to civilian deaths. The firm will pay $30,000 to injured victims and $100,000 to families of people who died in a number of shooting incidents involving employees of the firm, including the infamous Nisoor Square incident that left 17 dead in 2007.

Meanwhile, in Afghanistan, two former Blackwater contractors were arrested for killing two Afghans last year, the AP reports. Justin Cannon, 27, and Chris Drotleff, 29, face charges of second-degree murder. The contractors were fired by Blackwater for opening fire on an oncoming vehicle containing the two victims.
(More Blackwater stories.)

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