Blackwater Appeal to be Closed to Public: Nisoor Square Massacre

A U.S. appeals court has agreed to a hear the federal government’s appeal of a decision to clear five former operatives with the private military firm Blackwater in the 2007 Nisoor Square massacre behind closed doors. The five guards had been charged with killing 14 unarmed Iraqi civilians during an unprovoked attack in Baghdad. The charges were dismissed after a judge ruled prosecutors had used incriminating statements they had made while under State Department immunity. At the request of both the government and the suspects, the appeal will be closed entirely to the public. A ruling is not expected for three months