Police: Security contractors flee after opening fire in Baghdad; 9 civilians dead, 18 wounded

Above: Private 'security contractors' in Baghdad hired to protect reconstruction projects.

Security contractors opened fire in western Baghdad on Sunday, killing at least nine civilians and wounding 18, Iraqi police said. The U.S. Embassy said contractors working for the State Department were involved in an incident but provided no further details.

The shootings happened about 12:30 on Nisoor Square in the predominantly Sunni neighborhood of Mansour, a police officer said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to release the information.

The security contractors were in a convoy of six SUVs and left the scene after the shooting. The policeman said he did not have more details, but a witness said the shooting erupted after an explosion.

The U.S. Embassy said State Department contractors were involved in an incident in Baghdad but released no details saying an investigation was under way.

Read the rest at the International Herald Tribune

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