Iraqis accuse NC-based Blackwater of shredding documents

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Lawyers for several Iraqis have accused North Carolina-based Blackwater Worldwide of shredding documents related to federal investigations into the company.

Lawyers made the accusations in court documents late Friday but did not identify the source of the information.

Blackwater is a major security contractor in Iraq. It faces several investigations. The largest is for a September shooting that left 17 Iraqi civilians dead. Family members are already suing the company for alleged wrongful death and are now asking a judge to add document destruction to that lawsuit.

Company lawyers say Blackwater took appropriate steps to make sure documents were not destroyed.

There is no indication the Justice Department is investigating shredding as part of the shooting investigation.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)