Baghdad , Iraq ( CNN ) -- Iraq has ordered former employees of the private military contractor once known as Blackwater to leave the country , its interior minister announced Wednesday . Contractors who once worked for Blackwater , now known as Xe , have seven days to leave Iraq , Interior Minister Jawad al-Bolani told the state television network al-Iraqiya . The move follows a January declaration by Iraq 's government that former Blackwater employees were no longer welcome in the country . Blackwater became the target of widespread Iraqi outrage after its contractors were involved in the September 2007 shooting in Baghdad 's Nisoor Square that left 17 civilians dead . That outrage was renewed in December , when a U.S. judge dismissed manslaughter charges against five guards involved in the shootings on constitutional grounds . The company 's last contracts in Iraq have been transferred to other companies . But Iraqi authorities say about 250 former Blackwater employees remain behind , some working for other security firms . `` I do n't think the Iraqi government is willing to have any Blackwater member , even if they are working in other companies , '' government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh told CNN in January . `` We do n't like to see them here working in any company . '' Blackwater had about 1,000 contractors working in Iraq at the height of its involvement , guarding diplomatic convoys and supply vehicles around the country after the U.S. invasion in 2003 . At least 10 of its employees were killed , including four whose burned and mutilated bodies were dragged through the streets of Fallujah after an ambush in 2004 . CNN 's Jomana Karadsheh and Suzanne Simons contributed to this report .
Former Blackwater ( now known as Xe ) employees must leave Iraq , Iraqi officials say . Score: 6 Blackwater became target of Iraqi outrage after 2007 shooting left 17 civilians dead .