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Article: US State Department renews Blackwater contract for now; probe of shooting continues
- Article from:
- AP Worldstream
- Article date:
- April 4, 2008
- Author:
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The U.S. State Department said Friday it will renew Blackwater USA's license to protect diplomats in Baghdad for one year, but a final decision is pending whether the private security company will keep the job.
A top State department official said that because the FBI is investigating last year's fatal shooting of Baghdad civilians, there is no justification now to pull the contract when it comes due in May. Blackwater has a five-year deal to provide personal protection for diplomats, which is reauthorized each year.
The State Department uses Blackwater to guard diplomats in Baghdad, where the sprawling U.S. Embassy is headquartered. The private guards act as bodyguards ...