Pay Dispute Forces Closure of Iraq Airport
The Baghdad International Airport, the country’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 said it was sending troops to reopen the facility. The brewing standoff could involve American forces in a confrontation with Iraqi troops. An official close to the dispute said the U.S. military had joined security forces from the British company at a checkpoint to block Iraqi interior ministry troops. He spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of negotiations.Full Story