Main stories: Killings spark outrage over contractors in Iraq

The killings of Iraqi civilians by a U.S. security firm spark new tensions between the U.S. and Iraqi governments.

What happened

The killings of several Iraqi civilians by a U.S. security firm have sparked new tensions between the U.S. and Iraqi governments, with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki calling the incident a “challenge to the sovereignty of Iraq.” Security guards from the Blackwater firm last week opened fire on civilians in western Baghdad, killing at least 11 Iraqis and wounding 12. Blackwater officials said the guards, who were protecting a U.S. Embassy convoy, were returning insurgent fire. But several witnesses said the shooting was wild and unprovoked. Al-Maliki initially demanded that Blackwater leave Iraq. But after U.S. officials said the removal of Blackwater guards would leave U.S. diplomats unprotected, al-Maliki this week agreed to wait for the results of a joint U.S.-Iraqi inquiry.

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