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Iraq to end contractor immunity Iraq to end contractor immunity
(41 minutes later)
The Iraqi government has approved a draft law revoking the immunity from prosecution private security contractors enjoy under Iraqi law.The Iraqi government has approved a draft law revoking the immunity from prosecution private security contractors enjoy under Iraqi law.
The law, which has been referred to parliament, would revoke an order set up after the US-led invasion in 2003.The law, which has been referred to parliament, would revoke an order set up after the US-led invasion in 2003.
Foreign guards would also be subject to searches at Iraqi checkpoints and be required to carry licences for weapons. The move comes six weeks after the fatal shooting of 17 Iraqi civilians in Baghdad by US firm Blackwater.
Earlier, reports said guards accused of shooting dead 17 Iraqis might have been offered partial immunity by the US. Earlier, reports said the US state department might have offered partial immunity to the guards involved.
Unnamed US officials said the offer, by a branch of the US state department, was unauthorised. The deals would protect the guards against prosecution for anything they might say in interviews as long as their statements were true.
It could make it much more difficult to prosecute the guards employed by US-based firm Blackwater, the officials said. These companies will not get immunity and will be subject to Iraqi law Ali al-DabbaghIraqi government spokesman class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7033332.stm">Shoot-out: What happened class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7002974.stm">Impunity under scrutiny
An Iraqi government investigation has concluded that Blackwater guards fired without provocation during the incident in Baghdad on 16 September. But the US Department of Justice said the bureau had no right to grant the deals.
The Baghdad shooting is currently being investigated by the FBI.
Correspondents say that if the reports of immunity deals do turn out to be true, that could further complicate the issue of how the guards could be tried.
Widespread anger
In Baghdad, however, Iraq's government was adamant that contractors would have to obey its laws.
"The cabinet today approved a new draft law which puts all private security companies under the Iraqi law," Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said.
"These companies will not get immunity and will be subject to Iraqi law."
An Iraqi probe into the Blackwater shooting blamed the US companyForeign guards would also be subject to searches at Iraqi checkpoints and be required to carry licences for weapons, Mr Dabbagh said.
The bill must now be approved by the Iraqi parliament.
It is intended to replace Order 17 of the now-defunct Coalition Provisional Authority, which governed Iraq after the US-led invasion of 2003.
That order granted private security contractors immunity from prosecution in Iraq but made them subject to the law of their "sending state".
The BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says there is widespread anger after the shootings involving Blackwater, and there are many calls for those responsible to be put on trial.
But that is unlikely to happen in this particular case, our correspondent says, as the legislation would have to be applied retrospectively.
An Iraqi government investigation has concluded that Blackwater guards fired without provocation during the incident in Baghdad on 16 September and were "100% guilty".
Blackwater has insisted its staff acted only in self defence after insurgents fired upon the US diplomatic convoy they were protecting.Blackwater has insisted its staff acted only in self defence after insurgents fired upon the US diplomatic convoy they were protecting.
It has also welcomed the launch of an FBI investigation into the fatal shootings. Last Wednesday, the head of the state department's diplomatic security division, Richard Griffin, resigned after a report said there should be far tighter supervision of private security personnel in Iraq.