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Iraqi Nixes Blackwater Settlement Offer

'We won't accept such an amount' for Baghdad massacre, he says

By the Associated Press

Posted Jan 10, 2010 10:44 AM CST
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(AP) – An Iraqi injured by the US private security firm once known as Blackwater today rejected a compensation deal for injuries he suffered after company employees opened fire in a crowded Baghdad square. "We have rejected the settlement because it is a small amount. We won't accept such an amount," said Mahdi Abdul-Kadir. None of the plaintiffs had yet received any money from the group, now known as Xe Services, he said.

Another plaintiff had said the company had offered $30,000 for each person wounded in the 2007 incident in Nisoor Square and $100,000 to the families of the 17 killed. On Dec. 31, a US federal judge threw out criminal charges against Blackwater, citing mistakes by prosecutors and infuriating Iraqis who had long held that security firms are above the law. A 2007 report called Blackwater out-of-control and indifferent to Iraqi civilian casualties.

In this Dec. 8, 2008 file photo, Sami Hawas, a 42-year-old taxi driver, and 7-year-old son Mohammed at home in Baghdad. Hawas was shot while driving his cab at Baghdad's Nisoor square.
In this Dec. 8, 2008 file photo, Sami Hawas, a 42-year-old taxi driver, and 7-year-old son Mohammed at home in Baghdad. Hawas was shot while driving his cab at Baghdad's Nisoor square.   (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban, File)
In this Thursday, Sept. 25, 2007 file photo, an Iraqi traffic policeman inspects a car destroyed by a Blackwater security detail in al-Nisoor Square in Baghdad, Iraq.
In this Thursday, Sept. 25, 2007 file photo, an Iraqi traffic policeman inspects a car destroyed by a Blackwater security detail in al-Nisoor Square in Baghdad, Iraq.   (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed, File)
In a July, 21, 2008 file photo, founder and CEO of Blackwater Worldwide Erik Prince is seen at Blackwater's offices in Moyock, NC.
In a July, 21, 2008 file photo, founder and CEO of Blackwater Worldwide Erik Prince is seen at Blackwater's offices in Moyock, NC.   (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 12 comments
sailor86
Jan 16, 2010 2:07 AM CST
Well, that settles it.
Zero
Jan 12, 2010 3:53 AM CST
"$30,000 for each person wounded" I guess there's the value of human life. :|
Acoma
Jan 11, 2010 12:59 PM CST
well said, w00189wr terrorists are created by imperialists; same coin, different faces.

Copyright 2012 Newser, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.

 
Blackwater • private security firm • Erik Prince • security contractors • Nisoor Square • Xe Services

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