'Blackwater covering up Iraq massacre'

US private security firm Blackwater faces charges of destroying evidence related to their cold-blooded murder of 17 Iraqi civilians.

Lawyers representing the Iraqi victims have reportedly pressed charges on the private contractor, saying it has shredded documents related to federal investigations into shootings which involved Blackwater security guards.

Personnel from private security firm Blackwater USA opened fire on 17 Iraqis in an unprovoked shooting spree in Baghdad's Nisoor Square in September.

Following the shooting, the Iraqi government urged the US to halt all contracts with the firm and hand over the security agents involved in the incident for prosecution in Iraq.

Washington attempted to brush aside the demands but was later forced to order an investigation into the killings. PressTV