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March 17, 2011

CIA Agent Accused of Murder Freed in Pakistan 
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In Pakistan, a CIA contractor and former Blackwater operative accused of
fatally shooting two men has been freed from prison and flown out of the
country. Raymond Davis was released after the victims' family members
accepted a "blood money" settlement of a reported $2.3 million. The
Pakistani government proposed the deal after the United States insisted
Davis is a diplomat entitled to diplomatic immunity. There are reports
the victims' relatives were put under intense pressure to accept the
settlement. In Washington, U.S. Department of State spokesman Mark Toner
denied rumors the U.S. government footed the bill.

Mark Toner: "I have said all I am going to say which is that the U.S.
did not pay compensation to the victims' families. We respect Pakistan
for resolving the case within its own legal system. As I have stated, we
strongly made the case throughout this process that Mr. Davis was a
diplomat and as such should be subject to diplomatic immunity, but the
case was resolved within their own legal system. We respect that."

Davis' case has sparked outrage in Pakistan. On Wednesday, police used
tear gas to disperse some 200 protesters who gathered outside the U.S.
Consulate in Lahore. More protests are expected today. In other news
from Pakistan, at least 35 people have been killed in a suspected U.S.
drone attack in North Waziristan province. Pakistani intelligence
officials say the victims were Taliban fighters.



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