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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Iraq to review all security firms | Iraq to review all security firms |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Iraq has said it will review the status of all private security firms operating in the country after a gunfight in Baghdad left eight civilians dead. | Iraq has said it will review the status of all private security firms operating in the country after a gunfight in Baghdad left eight civilians dead. |
| The Iraqi government said it wanted to determine whether such contractors were operating in compliance with Iraqi law. | The Iraqi government said it wanted to determine whether such contractors were operating in compliance with Iraqi law. |
| The review comes a day after the Iraqi authorities ordered the US-based firm, Blackwater USA, to suspend all operations and leave Iraq immediately. | The review comes a day after the Iraqi authorities ordered the US-based firm, Blackwater USA, to suspend all operations and leave Iraq immediately. |
| Blackwater has said its guards acted in self-defence in Sunday's incident. | Blackwater has said its guards acted in self-defence in Sunday's incident. |
| But the Iraqi interior ministry has claimed the men fired "randomly at citizens" in a crowded square in the capital, killing innocent bystanders and a policeman. | But the Iraqi interior ministry has claimed the men fired "randomly at citizens" in a crowded square in the capital, killing innocent bystanders and a policeman. |
| The Blackwater guards were protecting a convoy carrying officials from the US state department at the time. | The Blackwater guards were protecting a convoy carrying officials from the US state department at the time. |
| Unclear status | Unclear status |
| The Iraqi government's spokesman, Ali al-Dabbagh, said its decision to review the status of Private Security Companies (PSCs) was prompted by the "flagrant assault... on Iraqi citizens" on Sunday. | The Iraqi government's spokesman, Ali al-Dabbagh, said its decision to review the status of Private Security Companies (PSCs) was prompted by the "flagrant assault... on Iraqi citizens" on Sunday. |
| BLACKWATER USA FACTS Founded in 1997 by a former US Navy SEALHeadquarters in North CarolinaOne of at least 28 Private Security Companies in IraqEmploys 744 US citizens, 231 third-country nationals, and 12 Iraqis to protect US state department in Iraq (May 2007)Provided protection for former CPA head Paul BremerFour employees killed by mob in Falluja in March 2004Personnel have no combat immunity under international law if they engage in hostilities Profile: Blackwater USA | |
| "Companies should respect Iraqi laws and the dignity of the citizens," he added. | "Companies should respect Iraqi laws and the dignity of the citizens," he added. |
| The BBC's Hugh Sykes in Baghdad says the status of the thousands of often heavily armed private security guards employed in Iraq is unclear. | The BBC's Hugh Sykes in Baghdad says the status of the thousands of often heavily armed private security guards employed in Iraq is unclear. |
| The guards are considered neither civilians nor military personnel, although they do carry IDs from the US Department of Defense. | The guards are considered neither civilians nor military personnel, although they do carry IDs from the US Department of Defense. |
| Order 17 of the Coalition Provisional Authority gives the guards immunity from Iraqi prosecution, but they have no combat immunity under international law if they engage in hostilities. | Order 17 of the Coalition Provisional Authority gives the guards immunity from Iraqi prosecution, but they have no combat immunity under international law if they engage in hostilities. |
| Any Iraqi review of their status would therefore only have an effect if the US authorities accept its conclusions, our correspondent says. | Any Iraqi review of their status would therefore only have an effect if the US authorities accept its conclusions, our correspondent says. |
| 'Fair probe' | 'Fair probe' |
| Earlier, the US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, telephoned Prime Minister Nouri Maliki to express her regret over the deaths and pledge to help carry out a "fair and transparent" investigation into the incident. | Earlier, the US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, telephoned Prime Minister Nouri Maliki to express her regret over the deaths and pledge to help carry out a "fair and transparent" investigation into the incident. |
| A spokesman for Ms Rice told the AFP news agency that she had "reiterated that the United States does everything it can to avoid such loss of life in contrast to the enemies of the Iraqi people who deliberately target civilians". | A spokesman for Ms Rice told the AFP news agency that she had "reiterated that the United States does everything it can to avoid such loss of life in contrast to the enemies of the Iraqi people who deliberately target civilians". |
| The two agreed to hold any wrongdoers accountable, according to Mr Maliki's spokesman. | The two agreed to hold any wrongdoers accountable, according to Mr Maliki's spokesman. |
| Blackwater is one of the biggest private security contractors in Iraq and is reported to have a contract worth $300m (£150m) with the state department to protect its diplomatic staff and equipment there. | Blackwater is one of the biggest private security contractors in Iraq and is reported to have a contract worth $300m (£150m) with the state department to protect its diplomatic staff and equipment there. |
| Last week, the US ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker, spoke of the importance of private security contractors in Iraq and correspondents say their suspension would be a potentially serious blow to the state department's work there. | Last week, the US ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker, spoke of the importance of private security contractors in Iraq and correspondents say their suspension would be a potentially serious blow to the state department's work there. |
| Have you worked for a security firm in Iraq? What are your views on this story? Please contact us using the form below. | Have you worked for a security firm in Iraq? What are your views on this story? Please contact us using the form below. |