Editorial Note: The following news reports are summaries from original sources. They may also include corrections of Arabic names and political terminology. Comments are in parentheses.

 

US Government Renews Contract With Blackwater Private Army, Starts 4th Round of Negotiations With Iran in Baghdad, Holds Security Meetings with Syrians and Iranians in Damascus

The Iraq News Agency (INA) reported today (April 5, 2008) that US-recruited Sahwa fighters kill Iraqis released from US prisons.

- Pro-government Shi'i militias kidnapped 17 former Iraqi pilots, who served during the Iran-Iraq war, and transferred them to Iran. These militias also killed 32 tribal chiefs, who were perceived as ant-Iranian influence in Iraq.

- On April 13, an international conference about security in Iraq will be convened in Damascus. The highlight of the conference is a trilateral meeting between Syrian, Iranian, and US officials to coordinate their efforts in Iraq.

Dabbagh: Blackwater contract renewed in coordination with govt.

Arbil - Voices of Iraq
Saturday , 05 /04 /2008  Time 6:59:03 
Arbil, Apr 5, (VOI) –

The United States notified the Iraqi government on the renewal of private security firm Blackwater’s contract for another year, an Iraq spokesman said on Saturday, adding the firm’s work would be subject to Iraqi laws pertaining to security companies.

“The company’s work would be in full coordination with the Iraqi government in accordance with conditions reached with the U.S. administration,” said Ali al-Dabbagh, the official spokesman for the Iraqi government, said in statements to Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI).

Dabbagh did not elaborate on those conditions.

On September 16, 2007 Blackwater security men, who were escorting a diplomatic convoy, opened fire at a street teeming with pedestrians in Baghdad, killing 17 civilians. The firm reiterated that its men fired back an assault with bullets and stones. A later Iraqi probe concluded that the convoy never came under fire or stone attacks.

“An agreement was reached with America on changing the rules of engagement and use of force in a way not offending Iraqi citizens,” Dabbagh said.

The U.S. State Department had said on Friday that it renewed for one year the contract of Blackwater, the focal point of controversy after the September 2007 incidents in Baghdad.

AE

A new round of U.S.-Iran negotiations over Iraq to be held-Foreign ministry

Baghdad - Voices of Iraq
Saturday , 05 /04 /2008  Time 6:59:03 
Baghdad, Apr 5, (VOI) –

The deputy foreign minister on Saturday said the ministry is exerting all efforts to hold a fourth round of negotiations between the U.S. and Iraq over Iraq.

"The foreign ministry is exerting efforts to hold a fresh round of negotiations between Iran and the U.S. after postponing the meeting that was intended to be in March," Mohamed al-Haj Humoud, deputy foreign minister, told Aswat al-Iraq - Voices of Iraq - (VOI).

Humoud conceded "the efforts (to bring the two sides together) have not come to positive result."
A new round of U.S.-Iran negotiations over Iraq supposed to be held in early March were put off due to the fact that the U.S. side did not arrive in Baghdad while the Iranian side was in the Iraqi capital.
Earlier, an Iraqi government spokesman said his government was working to set a time for negotiations between the U.S. and Iran through contacting both sides.

The U.S. has accused Iran of training, funding, and supplying gunmen with weapons to attack U.S. forces. Iran denied the claims and called for a U.S. army withdrawal from Iraq, considering the U.S. presence in Iraq as the cause of all violence and turbulence in the region.
AM/SR
 

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