Blackwater Inquiry Turns to Baghdad

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Blackwater Inquiry Turns to Baghdad

By MATT APUZZO and LARA JAKES JORDAN

Associated Press Writers


Federal authorities investigating Blackwater Worldwide contractors are returning to Baghdad this week to revisit the scene of a deadly September shooting that left 17 Iraqi civilians dead.

The two-week trip, by eight prosecutors and FBI agents, marks the latest phase in an inquiry that was limited from the start by the government's promise of immunity for Blackwater bodyguards who provided sworn statements about the shootings.

The gunplay in a crowded Baghdad intersection has strained diplomatic relations and raised questions over whether some contractors can operate without legal consequences.

The Justice Department team left Tuesday night for Iraq, where they planned to interview witnesses and gather evidence from the Sept. 16 shooting. The trip was confirmed by several people close to the case who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the investigation.

Since opening a grand jury investigation in November, prosecutors have questioned about 30 U.S. witnesses, including Blackwater security guards and managers, during closed-door grand jury sessions in a Washington courthouse. To accommodate the crush of witnesses, prosecutors took the unusual step of requesting a third day of grand jury time each week.

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