The State Department decided in January not to renew a personnel protection contract with Blackwater, as the company was then known, when it expired in May.

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Faced with persistent speculation about his future as boss of Siemens, Mr Kleinfeld told the 20-strong board before their gathering that he would leave the company if they did not make a firm commitment to renew his contract.

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It was again confirmed that customers must agree to a two year contract, even if that requires customers to renew their current service.

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