U.S. Blackwater’s contract in Baghdad expires

The contract of U.S. Blackwater security firm in Baghdad has ended on Thursday, the U.S. embassy said.

“The task order for security operations of Blackwater in Baghdad comes to an end today,” and security firm Triple Canopy would replace it, embassy spokeswoman Susan Ziadeh told reporters.

Ziadeh said that “Blackwater has other task orders elsewhere inthe country.”

The expire of Blackwater’s contract represents the end of controversial era of the company’s mission, which its guards killed 17 Iraqi civilians and wounded some 20 others in September 2007 in Nisour Square of western Baghdad.

Investigation later said that Blackwater guards excessively opened fire with automatic weapons while escorting an American diplomatic convoy through the square.

The deadly incident angered Iraqi people, who have long complained about the excessive use of fire by foreign security contractors of Blackwater and other security firms.