The Iraqi government said Friday it regretted the
decision by a U.S. judge to dismiss the charges against five Blackwater security guards who
allegedly killed innocent Iraqi civilians in 2007.
"The Iraqi government regrets and is disappointed by the decision," said Ali al-Dabbagh,spokesman for the Iraqi government in a statement.
"The investigations conducted by the Iraqi authorities confirm clearly that the Blackwater
guards committed murder and violated the rule of only using arms under the circumstances of being threatened," he said.
The spokesman added that the Iraqi government would continue its procedures to
prosecute the criminals and protect the rights of the victims, their families and others who
suffered losses in the incident.
Ricardo Urbina, the U.S. federal judge, dismissed the charges against the five on
Thursday, claiming incriminating statements were used by federal prosecutors in the case.
Blackwater, a private security contractor hired to protect U.S. State Department personnel in Iraq, were accused by the Iraqi government for using excessive force in Baghdad streets. On Sept. 16, 2007, the Blackwater guards opened fire with automatic weapons and grenade launchers on unarmed Iraqi civilians in Baghdad after a car bomb exploded.
The U.S. government accused the guards of causing the deaths of 14 unarmed civilians
and injuring 20 others. Three other fatalities weren't included in the charges. The Blackwater
firm which wasn't charged in the case argued the defendants "acted within the rules set forth
for them by the government."