Iraq to sue Blackwater on behalf victims

Iraq said Tuesday it will seek justice against Blackwater on behalf of the families of those who were killed at Baghdad shooting in 2007.

Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said the cabinet has decided to open new case against five Blackwater guards who opened fire at Iraqi civilians, killing 17 at a Baghdad traffic circle in 2007.

“The council [of Ministers] decided during its session on Tuesday to sue the US security company Blackwater instead of the victims’ families,” Voices of Iraq news agency quoted Dabbagh as saying.

Iraq pledged to seek justice against them in the US and Iraq after a US federal judge dropped all charges against them last week.

The guards were charged with 17 counts of manslaughter, 20 counts of attempting to commit manslaughter and one count of weapons violation.

Dabbagh has promised that the government will facilitate a lawsuit from Iraqi citizens to sue the guards and the company in a US court.