“Each of these experts subjected the videotape to a very careful and thorough examination, and each of them concluded that there was nothing to indicate that the video was a fake. My own interpretation of their conclusions is that they point very clearly to the authenticity of the video.”

The American security firm, Blackwater, has reached a settlement in a series of lawsuits brought over the killing of Iraqi civilians. The amount of the settlement has not been disclosed. Blackwater, which has since changed its name to Xe, said it could now move on under new management. Jenner Bryon reports from Washington.

The lawsuits were seeking compensation for Iraqis killed in separate shootings between 2006 and 2007, allegedly involving Blackwater contractors. One of the lawsuits accused the company’s founder, Erik Prince, of allowing a culture in which a heavily armed private army was allowed to roam the streets of Baghdad, killing innocent civilians. Last week, criminal charges against the individuals allegedly involved were dropped when a judge said prosecutors had compromised the case and a fair trial was not possible.

The US Justice Department says the two former employees of Blackwater have been charged in connection with the murder of Afghan citizens in Kabul. The suspects allegedly fired on two Afghan men at the scene of a road accident. They have said they acted in self-defence.

World News from the BBC.