InfoAnda - Judge tosses Blackwater case, Iraqis angry

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Google CEO avoids answering Twitter question | 16 February 2011
Al Qaeda figure surrenders to Saudi authorities: TV | International | | 18 February 2009
Fighting in Sudan's Darfur forces 12,000 to flee | 19 December 2010

Rival Libya militias battle in streets of Tripoli | | 4 November 2012

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Judge tosses Blackwater case, Iraqis angry

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail More Yahoo! Services Account Options New User? Sign Up Sign In Help Yahoo! Search web search Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Africa Europe Latin America Middle East North America Judge tosses Blackwater case, Iraqis angry By MATT APUZZO,Associated Press Writer - Saturday, January 2 Send IM Story Print WASHINGTON – A federal judge cited repeated government missteps in dismissing all charges against five Blackwater Worldwide security guards accused of killing unarmed Iraqi civilians in a case that inflamed anti-American sentiment abroad. U.S. District Judge Ricardo Urbina dismissed the case against the guards accused of the shooting in a crowded Baghdad intersection in 2007. The shooting in busy Nisoor Square left 17 Iraqis dead. The Iraqi government wanted the guards to face trial in Iraq and officials there said they would closely watch how the U.S. judicial system handled the case. Urbina said the prosecutors ignored the advice of senior Justice Department officials and built their case on sworn statements that had been given under a promise of immunity. Urbina said that violated the guards' constitutional rights. He dismissed the government's explanations as "contradictory, unbelievable and lacking in credibility." "We're obviously disappointed by the decision," Justice Department spokesman Dean Boyd said. "We're still in the process of reviewing the opinion and considering our options." Prosecutors can appeal the ruling. Ali al-Dabbagh, the Iraqi government spokesman, said in a statement Friday that the government was dismayed by the court's dismissal of the case. "The Iraqi government regrets the decision," he said. "Investigations conducted by specialized Iraqi authorities confirmed unequivocally that the guards of Blackwater committed the crime of murder and broke the rules by using arms without the existence of any threat obliging them to use force." "The Iraqi government will follow up its procedures strictly and firmly to pursue the criminals of the above named company and to preserve the rights of the Iraqi citizens who were victims or the families who suffered losses from this crime." Dr. Haitham Ahmed, whose wife and son were killed in the shooting, said the decision casts doubt on the integrity of the entire U.S. justice system. "If a judge ... dismissed the trial, that is ridiculous and the whole thing has been but a farce," Ahmed said. "The rights of our victims and the rights of the innocent people should not be wasted." Dozens of Iraqis, including the estates of some of the victims allegedly killed by Blackwater employees, filed a separate lawsuit last year alleging that Blackwater employees engaged in indiscriminate killings and beatings. The civil case is still before a Virginia court. Blackwater contractors had been hired to guard U.S. diplomats in Iraq. The guards said insurgents ambushed them in a traffic circle. Prosecutors said the men unleashed an unprovoked attack on civilians using machine guns and grenades. The shooting led to the unraveling of the North Carolina-based company, which since has replaced its management and changed its name to Xe Services. The five guards are Donald Ball, a former Marine from West Valley City, Utah; Dustin Heard, a former Marine from Knoxville, Tenn.; Evan Liberty, a former Marine from Rochester, N.H.; Nick Slatten, a former Army sergeant from Sparta, Tenn., and Paul Slough, an Army veteran from Keller, Texas. Defense attorneys said the guards were thrilled by the ruling after more than two years of scrutiny. "It's tremendously gratifying to see the court allow us to celebrate the new year the way it has," said attorney Bill Coffield, who represents Liberty. "It really invigorates your belief in our court system." "It's indescribable," said Ball's attorney, Steven McCool. "It feels like the weight of the world has been lifted off his shoulders. Here's a guy that's a decorated war hero who we maintain should never have been charged in the first place." The five guards had been charged with manslaughter and weapons violations. The charges carried mandatory 30-year prison terms. Urbina's ruling does not resolve whether the shooting was proper. Rather, the 90-page opinion underscores some of the conflicting evidence in the case. Some Blackwater guards told prosecutors they were concerned about the shooting and offered to cooperate. Others said the convoy had been attacked. By the time the FBI began investigating, Nisoor Square had been picked clean of bullets that might have proven whether there had been a firefight or a massacre. The Iraqi government has refused to grant Blackwater a license to continue operating in the country, prompting the State Department to refuse to renew its contracts with the company. In a statement released by its president, Joseph Yorio, the company said it was happy to have the shooting behind it. "Like the people they were protecting, our Xe professionals were working for a free, safe and democratic Iraq for the Iraqi people," Yorio said. "With this decision, we feel we can move forward and continue to assist the United States in its mission to help the people of Iraq and Afghanistan find a peaceful, democratic future." The top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. Raymond Odierno, declined to comment on the specifics of the case, but said, "I do worry about it, because clearly there were innocent people killed in that attack ... it is heart-wrenching." The case against the five men fell apart because, after the shooting, the State Department ordered the guards to explain what happened. In exchange for those statements, the State Department promised the statements would not be used in a criminal case. Such limited immunity deals are common in police departments so officers involved in shootings cannot hold up internal investigations by refusing to cooperate. The five guards told investigators they fired their weapons, an admission that was crucial because forensic evidence could not determine who had fired. Because of the immunity deal, prosecutors had to build their case without those statements, a high legal hurdle that Urbina said the Justice Department failed to clear. Prosecutors read those statements, reviewed them in the investigation and used them to question witnesses and get search warrants, Urbina said. Key witnesses also reviewed the statements and the grand jury heard evidence that had been tainted by those statements, the judge said. The Justice Department set up a process to avoid those problems, but Urbina said lead prosecutor Ken Kohl and others "purposefully flouted the advice" of senior Justice Department officials telling them not to use the statements. It was unclear what the ruling means for a sixth Blackwater guard, Jeremy Ridgeway, who turned on his former colleagues and pleaded guilty to killing one Iraqi and wounding another. Had he gone to trial, the case against him would likely have fallen apart, but it's unclear whether Urbina will let him out of his plea deal. ___ Associated Press writers Bushra Juhi and Rebecca Santana in Baghdad contributed to this report. ___ On the Net: Read the judge's opinion: http://bit.ly/7q0G2r Recommend Send IM Story Print Related Articles Israeli war planes strike Gaza tunnels AP - 44 minutes ago Tobacco-rich NC bans smoking in bars, restaurants AP - 1 hour 9 minutes ago Veteran editor, ex-Post ombudsman Howell dies AP - 1 hour 39 minutes ago UK-World Summary Reuters - 1 hour 43 minutes ago Afghan parliament starts voting on new cabinet Reuters - 1 hour 43 minutes ago News Search Top Stories Iran's Mousavi ready to die for opposition cause Deadline looms in Fox, Time Warner Cable dispute Soviet-era Lithuanian nuclear plant shuts down under EU deal Wall Street ends recovery year on weak note London, Paris stocks finish 2009 with big gains More Top Stories » ADVERTISEMENT Most Popular Most Viewed Most Recommended Japan Airlines 'may stop international flights' Oil prices rise on last day of 2009 Iran's Mousavi ready to die for opposition cause UK honours F1 king, Status Quo stars, but bankers out Wall Street ends recovery year on weak note More Most Viewed » Tiger's wife Elin seeking divorce: reports British priest defends urging people to shoplift Century-old butter found in Scott's Antarctic hut Brazilian confesses to sticking needles into two-year-old Plastics component affects intestine: study More Most Recommended » Elsewhere on Yahoo! Financial news on Yahoo! Finance Stars and latest movies Best travel destinations More on Yahoo! News Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Subscribe to our news feeds Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS » More news feeds | What are news feeds? Also on Yahoo Answers Groups Mail Messenger Mobile Travel Finance Movies Sports Games » All Yahoo! Services Site Highlights Singapore Full Coverage Most Popular Asia Entertainment Photos Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community | Intellectual Property Rights Policy | Help

Other News on Saturday, 2 January 2010
Opposition head Mousavi says Iran in "serious crisis"
Ultra-Orthodox Jews make rare visit to Gaza
U.S., Britain try to shore up Yemen security |
Iraq regrets U.S. Blackwater case dismissal, may sue
Brazil mudslides, floods kill 44 after heavy rain |
Finnish mall shootings not random: police |
Kidnapped French journalists in Afghanistan alive |
Eritrean rebels say kill 25 government troops in attacks |
Hundreds of cars torched in France at New Year |
Former hostage Moore arrives back in Britain |
Police: Suicide bombing kills 75 in NW Pakistan
Google executive running for Vermont governor post
Thousands line up for Pasadena's Rose Parade
More civilian deaths claimed in Afghanistan
Clinton donor list doesn't say who gave in '09
Family of woman slain by officer awarded $2.5M
Afghan cash-for-weapons program leads to tips
Youth trek from Miami to DC for immigrant rights
Pakistan: Suicide bomb kills 25 at volleyball site
Iraq takes steps to 'bring Blackwater to justice'
Pakistan: Suicide bomb kills 20 at volleyball site
Pakistan: Suicide bomb kills 3 at volleyball site
Mummers strutting in Philly as rain holds off
Officials: Cruise ship passenger jumps overboard
Law enforcement deaths for 2009 reach 125
December 1st month without US combat death in Iraq
New Hampshire's Gay Marriage Law Takes Effect
Review: Met stages dark, powerful new 'Carmen'
Watchman questioned in France over stolen painting
Poland launches Chopin bicentenary celebrations
Turkey wants the remains of old St Nick
Get Your Gun? Wizards' Teammates Reportedly Had Locker Room Dispute
Filipinos To Get Encore Blue Moon In January
Abbas may review security ties after Israeli raid
Danish police arrest man trying to kill cartoonist
Danish cartoonist home attacker had terror links |
Iran's Mousavi ready to die for opposition cause
US-TECH Summary
Pakistan volleyball blast kills 88 |
Afghan parliament starts voting on new cabinet |
Iraqis outraged as Blackwater case thrown out
Afghan authorities distance themselves from CIA 'black ops'
Abbas may review security ties after Israeli raid |
Kidnapped French journalists in Afghanistan alive |
Taiwan's Asustek to free up subsidiary by June
Electrical outage causes Calif. hotel evacuation
Tobacco-rich NC bans smoking in bars, restaurants
Obama takes daughters for shave ice treat
FBI: Police fatally shoot suspected kidnapper
Airport pat-downs often ineffective security stop
More than 600,000 Chinese visited Taiwan in 2009: media
Philippines lowers alert level at restive Mayon volcano
Philippine volcano calming; thousands head home
Judge tosses Blackwater case, Iraqis angry
Japan's emperor greets New Year crowds
US mine deaths hit record low of 34 in 2009
Nine dead in China fireworks factory blast: media
Australian ruling party has solid lead
1 dead, 4 injured in Wis. snowmobile accident
Pakistan volleyball blast kills 88
88 dead after suicide car bomb at Pakistan volleyball game
Labor chief moves on job safety, workers' rights
Major militant attacks in Pakistan since October
Taiwan's Asustek to free up subsidiary by June
Taiwan's Ma promises $10 billion infrastructure boost
Fox, Time Warner Cable reach deal to avoid blackout |
Somali pirates seize Indonesian chemical tanker
Rush Limbaugh says doctors found nothing wrong |
Kathy Griffin makes another vulgar quip on CNN
Latino beat sweeps Ethiopian capital
Macedonia imposes tough new smoking ban
Vienna New Year concert reaches record 72 countries
Iran warns West it will make its own nuclear fuel
Handball Henry still a fan favourite
Israeli warplanes hit Gaza after rocket attack
'Snowbama' time in Hawaii
Israeli war planes strike Gaza tunnels
Afghan chamber approves defense, interior ministers |
Late cleric's son warns of more Iran turmoil: report |
Brazil death toll from floods, mudslides rises to 64 |
Afghan parliament vote confirmed for May |
Somali pirates hijack UK-flagged ship: Bulgaria |
At least 10 killed in train crashes in northern India |
Somalia's ahlu Sunna clash with Shabaab, 10 killed |
Italy aims to introduce body scanners: minister |
North Korea holds massive New Year's rally
Japan PM starts tweeting, launches blog
GOP leader says US will overcome war, recession
Pakistan volleyball game bomb toll hits 93
Fox, Time Warner Cable announce broadcast deal
10 dead, 47 injured in train accidents in India
Obama Reiterates "War in Iraq" Had Nothing To Do With 9/11, To Focus on AfPak Region
Survivor of 1906 SF quake dies at age 107
Philippine volcano evacuees return as alert lowered
Cruise Ship Passenger Jumps Overboard
Fire kills 5, destroys Palm Springs mobile home
Karzai expresses condolences to Afghan civilians
Mexican Military On Alert After Counter-Strike Warning
$3.2 million in watches stolen from Tokyo store
Concert Tickets, Breasts Part Of New Year's Eve Deal
Pakistan Taliban say they carried out CIA attack
Limbaugh: Tests show no ailments after chest pain
Myanmar to give big boost to gov't worker salaries
Obama blames Al-Qaeda affiliate for airliner attack
Identical Fla. twins born in 2 separate decades
Sri Lankan presidential contender woos Tamil voters
Obama: al-Qaida link to Christmas terror suspect
Vietnam orders gold-trading floors shut by end-March
Pakistani c.bank buys 120.25 bln rupees of govt paper
Elton John says he's helping Eminem fight drugs
Picasso, Rousseau paintings stolen in France
A Minute With: Bryce Dallas Howard in Teardrop |
Taiwan invites China's Zhang Yimou to produce show
Convenience Stores Linked To Child Obesity
Concert Tickets, Breasts Part Of New Year's Eve Deal
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph		BlogMeter 1.01