Indictment drafted in Blackwater shooting - Marine Corps News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Marine Corps Times

Indictment drafted in Blackwater shooting

WASHINGTON — Federal prosecutors have drafted an indictment against six Blackwater Worldwide security guards for the deadly shootings of 17 Iraqi civilians last year.

People close to the case tell The Associated Press that the Justice Department is reviewing the draft. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the case.

No charging decisions have been made and none is expected until late this month at the earliest.

Blackwater guards opened fire in a busy intersection last year. The shootings outraged Iraqis and strained relations between Washington and Baghdad.

The largest security contractor in Iraq, Blackwater has become a flashpoint in the debate over the use of contractors in war zones.