Pay Dispute with Security Contractor Shuts Down Baghdad Airport

Summary

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BAGHDAD, Iraq -- The Baghdad International Airport, Iraq's only reliable link to the outside world, was closed Friday in an embarrassing pay dispute between the government and a British security company.

The Interior Ministry sent a force to reopen the facility, but withdrew the men after they confronted U.S. soldiers at a key checkpoint along the airport road.

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Extract

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Pay Dispute with Security Contractor Shuts Down Baghdad Airport

"We ordered the forces to pull back after American forces were deployed at the first checkpoint on the road. We did not want to create a confrontation," acting Transportation Minister Esmat Amer told The Associated Press.

Brig. Gen. John Basili...

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