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Baghdad: The Iraqi government's decision to expel the American security firm, Blackwater, has raised concerns over the future of Iraq-US security cooperation.
Blackwater, which was protecting US diplomats in Iraq, was on Monday ordered to stop its operations and leave the country after it opened fire on civilians on Sunday killing 10 people and injuring 13.
Iraq's interior ministry ordered the cancellation of Blackwater's operating licence after its guards who were escorting US embassy officials were involved in Sunday's shooting in Baghdad's Al Yarmukh neighbourhood.
The cancellation decision was greeted by ordinary Iraqis. Many ordinary Iraqis hate the Blackwater contractors who are referred to as "Mossad". Other private security guards operating in Iraq also say "they are arrogant, rude and dangerous".
"They kill innocent people on the street," Hameed Hussain, a pensioner in west Baghdad's Al Ma'amoun neighbourhood said yesterday.
"Where else in the world does this happen?" asked 60-year-old Hussain. "These are not security forces but rather forces to kill Iraqis. They are frenzied dogs." Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Karim Khalaf confirmed that the cabinet's decision will be implemented and his government will not backtrack.
Open for talks
However, sources close to Major General Hussain Ali Kamal, Chairman of the investigation agency, told Gulf News: "We do not expect the resolution to be implemented quickly, the Americans need time to set out alternative security arrangements, besides the issue is open for more negotiation".
Iraqi politicians accuse Blackwater personnel of ignoring the safety of citizens while doing their jobs in Baghdad.
Besides they are facing charges of disrespect to Iraqi officials' convoys while moving in the major thoroughfares.
Khaldoon Al Dari, an Iraqi lawyer, told Gulf News: "What the Iraqi government can do is cancel the licence of Blackwater and prevent them from working in Iraqi territory or bring those who involved in the murder of Iraqi civilians to court. Yet the government cannot do anything due to the presence of the multinational forces".
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki and apologised over the shooting and they agreed to run a "fair and transparent investigation", Al Maliki's office said.
"She has expressed her personal apologies and the apologies of the government of the United States. She confirmed that the United Sates will take immediate actions to prevent such actions from happening again," a statement from Al Maliki's office said.
Amir Mahdi, an Iraqi engineer, said to Gulf News: "I am very pleased with the decision which came late. The American security firm killed many civilians and acted arrogantly on the streets". He added: "It is time to stop insulting Iraqis".
Fadwa Kamil, a high school teacher, told Gulf News: "The Blackwater personnel are reckless and do not respect the lives of Iraqi civilians. They shoot any car that approaches their convoys even if a family is inside, the decision of expelling the security firm was right and brings joy to Iraqis".
It is worth mentioning that the American security firm is accused of impertinence against Iraqi laws when months ago it arranged the smuggling of the former minister of electricity, Ayham Al Samarrai, from prison to outside the country.
This operation raised the hackles of Prime Minister Al Maliki yet he did not make any decisions to punish the firm personnel.
Since the fall of Saddam Hussain's regime in 2003, private security contractors have enabled the US military to overcome some of the problems created by the Bush administration's decision to limit the number of troops on the ground.
Private companies and non-governmental organisations also turned to security companies to provide protection when security collapsed in the Iraqi capital in 2004.
But many Iraqis deeply resent the fact that contractors operate here beyond the constraints of their law.
Exempt from laws
US troops here are exempt from Iraqi law but are subject to prosecution under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
More than 60 US troopers in Iraq have been court-martialed on murder-related charges involving Iraqi citizens.
But an order issued by the US occupation authority in 2004 - and extended this year - states that contractors "shall not be subject to Iraqi laws or regulations" in the terms of their contracts or the performance of their duties.
Many of the contractors have been accused of indiscriminately firing at American and Iraqi troops, and of shooting to death an unknown number of Iraqi citizens who got too close to their heavily armed convoys, but none has faced charges or prosecution.
On Christmas Eve, an inebriated employee of Blackwater USA shot and killed a security guard for an Iraqi vice-president, according to Iraqi and US officials.
The contractor made his way to the US Embassy where Blackwater officials arranged to have him flown home to the United States, according US officials who spoke only on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media.
The contractor has been fired and Blackwater is cooperating with federal investigators, said company spokeswoman Anne Tyrrell.
- With additional input from agencies
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