A CIA contractor who shot and killed two men in Pakistan is free after the Untied States used a principle of Islamic Sharia law to appease the victims' family.

The families pardoned Raymond Allen Davis after the U.S. government paid them more than $2.3 million. Under Sharia law, which is used in Pakistan, this is called "blood money."

Davis claimed he was acting in self defense when he killed the two men on a street in the eastern city of Lahore on Jan. 27.

The killings sparked anti-American sentiments in Pakistan, a key ally to the U.S. war on terror.

At the time of his arrest, the federal government called Davis an Embassy employee, but later admitted he was a CIA operative.

In addition to the money, the U.S. Embassy thanked the victim's families for "their generosity."