Blackwater/Xe Settles Suits by Iraqi Civilians

(CN) - Blackwater, now called Xe, has settled a series of federal lawsuits accusing the U.S. securities contractor of allowing the murder of innocent civilians and rewarding mercenaries who "killed Iraqis as sport."

One lawsuit claimed that Blackwater founder Erik Prince "personally intended that his private army of men kill and wound innocent Iraqis."

In another, an ex-employee said it appeared that Prince "and his employees murdered, or had murdered, one or more persons who had provided information, or who were planning to provide information, to the federal authorities about the ongoing criminal conduct."

The State Department canceled Blackwater's contract after determining that contractors had opened fire in a Baghdad traffic square in September 2007, killing 17 Iraqi civilians.

The incident led to multiple grand-jury proceedings.

Prince has since resigned from the company, which now operates as Xe Services LLC in North Carolina.

Xe released a statement saying the company was "pleased" that a settlement had been reached.

"This enables Xe's new management to move the company forward free of the costs and distraction of ongoing litigation, and provides some compensation to Iraqi families," the company said.

Susan Burke, an attorney for alleged victims and their families, filed a motion to have seven cases dismissed in federal court in North Carolina.

The terms of the settlement were not disclosed.

To read more about the Blackwater litigation, view our previous coverage here:

Dead Man's Family Sues Blackwater

Widow Says Drunken Blackwater Guard Killed Her Husband for No Reason

Blackwater Accused of War Crimes in 2007 Nisoor Square Shootings

Another Family Says Xe/Blackwater Killed Their Father for No Reason

Blackwater/Xe Accused of More War Crimes

Blackwater Accused Again of Murders in Iraq

More War Crime Claims Against Erik Prince

Families Accuse Blackwater Mercenaries of Pointless Killings

Blackwater Founder Accused of Murder Plot