CIA spy escapes murder case in Pakistan after US pays 'blood money'

[CHIMO]

Source: guardian.co.uk

Raymond Davis, the CIA spy charged with murder in Pakistan, has flown out of the country after the relatives of two men he killed dropped charges in exchange for "blood money" of at least $1.4m (£874,000) and help in resettling abroad.

Davis slipped out of Lahore on a special flight from the old city airport after being released from the sprawling jail where he had been held for almost 10 weeks amid a diplomatic storm that rocked relations between the two allies and sucked in President Barack Obama.

A Pakistani official said the 36-year-old US spy was bound for an airbase in Afghanistan, then on to the US.

Davis was freed under Islamic laws that allow a murderer to walk free on payment of compensation to the family of his victims. The acquittal took place during a closed hearing at Kot Lakhpat jail where no reporters were present.



Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/16/cia-spy-murder-pakistan-blood

[mia]

1. Senator Kerry

Kerry, head of the Senate foreign affairs committee, who is often used as a go-between in difficult issues, is thought to have raised the issue of compensation with the Pakistan government on a visit to Islamabad on 16 February. Kerry's visit, devoted to securing Davis's release, was initially believed to have been a failure. But US officials have been working behind the scenes since then at trying to secure the deal.

Kerry said: "This was a very important and necessary step for both of our countries to be able to maintain our relationship and remain focused on progress on bedrock national interests, and I'm deeply grateful for the Pakistani government's decision.

"We deeply regret the loss of life that led to this difficulty in our relationship and the demonstrations on Pakistan's streets, but neither country could afford for this tragedy to derail our vital relationship. We look forward to working with Pakistan to strengthen our relationship and confront our common challenges."

The US state department released a statement by the US ambassador to Pakistan, Cameron Munter, who accompanied Davis on the flight from Pakistan to Afghanistan. Munter thanked the families of their victims for pardoning Davis. "I am grateful for their generosity."

[midnight]

2. Hmmmm........What are those national interests? The trillion dollars

worth of minerals in Afghanistan?

[Alamuti Lotus]

3. times like this,

easy to remember the fact that Muhammed(SWT) was a businessman before he was Prophet.. "blood money" laws may have prevented a great many destructive "Hatfield/McCoy" fueds in the East, but I was still kinda hoping the CIA/Blackwater would be stuck on a wall over this anyway--Pakistani gov't for once looked like it had to spine to stick to it.