Iraq demands Blackwater leave the country

CNN

The Iraqi government has asked for Blackwater to be pulled out of the country after its probe found the September 16 killing of civilians by Blackwater private contractors was unprovoked, an adviser to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said Tuesday.

Adviser Sami al-Askari told CNN the Iraqis have completed their investigation into the shooting at Nusoor Square in Baghdad.

Al-Askari said the United States is still waiting for the findings of the American investigation, but al-Maliki and most Iraqi officials are "completely satisfied" with the findings of their probe and are "insisting" that Blackwater leave the country.

U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Mirembe Natango told CNN by telephone that the Iraqi-U.S. joint commission met and is proceeding with its work on the matter.

"We need to let the joint commission do its work," she said, adding that once the joint commission has finished, it will make policy recommendations.

Blackwater CEO and founder Erik Prince has said the team was attacked and was defending itself at an intersection not far from the heavily guarded Green Zone on September 16. Seventeen Iraqis were killed, including women and children, and 27 were wounded, according to Iraqi officials.

Prince told CNN Sunday that the guards did not commit "deliberate violence."