US JUDICIARY DISAPPOINTS IRAQ

The Iraqi government said it regretted the decision by a U.S. judge to dismiss the charges against five Blackwater security guards who allegedly killed innocent Iraqi civilians in 2007. “The Iraqi government regrets and is disappointed by the decision,” said Ali al-Dabbagh, spokesman for the Iraqi government in a statement. “The investigations conducted by the Iraqi authorities confirm clearly that the Blackwater guards committed murder and violated the rule of only using arms under the circumstances of being threatened,” he said. The spokesman added that the Iraqi government would continue its procedures to prosecute the criminals and protect the rights of the victims, their families and others who suffered losses in the incident. Ricardo Urbina, the U.S. federal judge, dismissed the charges against the five security guards.