Five U.S. Contractors Held in Slaying of Another in Iraq

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Five American security contractors were detained in connection with the killing of another American contractor last month inside Baghdad's Green Zone, sources with knowledge of the investigation told CNN Saturday.

Iraqi and U.S. personnel took the five into custody in an operation inside the Green Zone before dawn on Friday, according to an Iraqi official involved in the investigation into the killing of James Kitterman. The five, who have not yet been charged, were being held by Iraqi security forces Saturday at a jail inside the heavily protected zone, he said.

The troops also confiscated weapons during the raid on the suspects' firm at about 4 a.m. (11 a.m. ET), said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The names of the suspects and the company they work for were not released. The U.S. military declined comment and referred questions to the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. Embassy officials did not immediately respond to request for comments.

Kitterman was found bound, blindfolded and fatally stabbed in a car in the district, formally known as the International Zone, on May 22. The 60-year-old Houston, Texas, resident owned a construction company that operated in Iraq.

The five suspects knew the victim, a source inside the Green Zone familiar with the investigation said. Both the Iraqi and the Green Zone sources noted that the FBI has been involved in the investigation from the start.

Once the suspects are charged and referred to trial, the case would be sent to Iraq's Central Criminal Court, the Iraqi official said. If that happens, it would be the first time U.S. citizens were tried in Iraq since the United States returned the country's government to the Iraqis.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/06/06/iraq.green.zone.killing/index.html

Added: Jun 6 2009 In: news_politics,middle_east

Recorded on: Jun 6 2009

By: True_Madness

Views: 1825 |
Votes: 1 |
Recommendations: 0 |
Comments: 11

Send to Friends |

Comments - sort by newest to oldest

WTF? In the land of bombs and ak's this is really something else.

Posted Jun-7-2009 by "Hitler_Is_Amazing" Premium

Quote |
Flag Comment

(0)
Organize crime is taking shape in Iraq, all these contractor are nothing more than mafia organizations , fighting for profit.

Posted Jun-7-2009 by "Doyle1" (R)

Quote |
Flag Comment

(5)
Quoted comment by Doyle1: Organize crime is taking shape in Iraq, all these contractor are nothing more than mafia organizations , fighting for profit.

Maybe you should go instead huh?

Posted Jun-7-2009 by "sanhan" Premium

Quote |
Flag Comment

(-2)
Man, I wanna hear more about this case...what the heck is going on with this?

Posted Jun-7-2009 by "Johnls" (R)

Quote |
Flag Comment

(1)
Attack dogs turning on each other.Maybe they killed an Iraqi for sport or embezzled funds.

Posted Jun-7-2009 by "PutzwithNutz" (R)

Quote |
Flag Comment

(2)
Quoted comment by AbdulJaffar: Is this how you bring freedom? for every innocent Muslim you kill,U.S soldiers tries to give gifts for the kids infront of cameras to look good how pathetic.

such a waste that blind hate,Dont say your a bad guy but open your eyes.

Posted Jun-7-2009 by "Noisekick" (R)

Quote |
Flag Comment

(-3)
How come more have not been arrested? Iraq was a mass genocide.

Posted Jun-7-2009 by "iraq_from_the_other_side" (R)

Quote |
Flag Comment

(1)