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Baghdad
International Airport
Baghdad, Iraq
September 10, 2005 NY
Times
The private security company that guards Baghdad International Airport
shut down the airport on Friday, saying it had not been paid for the
past six months. But the company, Global Strategies Group, announced
early Saturday that it had agreed to reopen the airport on Saturday
morning after a promise by the Iraqi government to pay half the amount
owed. The shutdown on Friday nearly led to a standoff between American
military forces and Iraqi soldiers when United States forces rushed to
the airport to prevent Iraqi troops from taking it over, according to
Iraqi officials and the security company. After Global Strategies closed
the airport at dawn on Friday, infuriated Iraqi ministry officials
dispatched their own troops to secure the airport. But the Iraqis turned
back to avoid a confrontation with American soldiers who had already
hurried to the airport from their nearby base, according to Iraqi
officials and Global Strategies. Global Strategies has offices in
London; Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates; and Washington. The
company shut down the airport for 48 hours in June over the nonpayment,
he said, but went back on the job after assurances of a resolution. He
said the airport could be reopened for civilian passengers by 8 a.m.
Saturday.
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