US federal agents have found that the killings of at least 14 of the 17 Iraqi civilians shot by Blackwater Worldwide security personnel in a September confrontation were unjustified and violated rules for the use of deadly force, The New York Times reported.

Citing civilian and military officials briefed on the case, the Times reported on its web site on Tuesday night that the Justice Department was already reviewing the findings even though the FBI was still investigating the shootings in Baghdad on September 16.

No evidence supports assertions by Blackwater employees that they were fired upon by Iraqi civilians, the Times reported.