Blackwater boss grilled over Iraq

Erik Prince's company has been paid more than $1bn for its services

The chairman of US private security contractor Blackwater has defended his firm and his staff during a grilling by a congressional committee.

Blackwater has come under scrutiny since a shoot-out last month in Baghdad in which 11 Iraqis were killed. The FBI has begun investigating that incident.

The firm's founder, Erik Prince, said his staff were brave and effective, and had acted "appropriately".

But one of the committee asked if the firm was "a shadow mercenary force".

"Blackwater appears to have fostered a culture of shoot first - and sometimes kill - and then ask the questions," said Democratic Congressman Elijah Cummings.

Blackwater is the main firm employed by the state department to provide security for its staff and visiting officials and businessmen.

It has earned more than $1bn (£490m) from US government contracts since 2001. The state department paid the company more than $832m (£408m) for security work between 2004 and 2006.

'Short' on standards

The 16 September shooting incident is not featuring in the hearing by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, following a Justice Department request that it wait until the FBI's investigation is concluded....