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February 9, 2011

Blackwater Appeal to be Closed to Public 
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A U.S. appeals court has agreed to a hear the federal government's
appeal of a decision to clear five former operatives with the private
military firm Blackwater in the 2007 Nisoor Square massacre behind
closed doors. The five guards had been charged with killing 14 unarmed
Iraqi civilians during an unprovoked attack in Baghdad. The charges were
dismissed after a judge ruled prosecutors had used incriminating
statements they had made while under State Department immunity. At the
request of both the government and the suspects, the appeal will be
closed entirely to the public. A ruling is not expected for three
months.



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