http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jAGVoyRoBdNyMHemAnlNWwkpx3Qw
Prosecute Iraq's 'rogue' security guards, says UN 3 hours ago BAGHDAD (AFP) - The UN called Thursday for rogue security guards in Iraq to face prosecution as the Australian-run firm involved in the latest civilian shooting insisted its staff stuck by clear rules of engagement. "We would like the US government and other governments that have contractors in Iraq... to apply rules of engagement on them and to prosecute them in their own countries," UN spokesman Said Arikat told a press conference in Baghdad. The legal position of private contractors, especially protective security details often used by foreign diplomats, is a hot-button issue in Iraq after two high-profile shooting incidents in the capital within a month. In the first on September 16, personnel from American firm Blackwater opened fire in a crowded Baghdad square while escorting a US State Department convoy, killing at least 10 people. Blackwater maintains its men were legitimately responding to an ambush, but the Iraqi government has said it intends to punish the compamy after a report found that 17 innocent civilians were gunned down "deliberately". Before the dust had time to settle the row deepened on Tuesday when a woman taxi driver mistakenly got too close to a security convoy in Karrada district and came under immediate gunfire by the guards. The taxi driver and her female passenger died of shots to the head, while a second woman passenger and a child were also wounded. The car was left riddled with bullets and witnesses described barrages of gunfire before the convoy of Dubai-based Unity Resources Group (URG), which says its staff feared a suicide attack, sped off. Since the Blackwater incident, the Iraqi government has drafted a law that would regulate the activities of private security contractors, but the United Nations said the onus was on foreign governments to act. "We call on governments (who have contractors in Iraq) to apply the rule of law. They don't want rogue elements running amok doing things, feeling they are above the law," said Arikat. Another UN official went further saying that companies like Blackwater and whoever is contracting them are liable for prosecution under international human rights law. "If security contractors are subject to international human rights law there are consequences that follow from breaches of that law. "There must be investigations whether crimes against humanity or war crimes have been committed," said UN human rights officer Ivana Vaco. Commenting on the incident, URG said in a fresh statement issued late Wednesday that its convoy used a series of signals after being "approached at speed by a white car." "The vehicle did not heed these warnings and failed to halt. Fearing a suicide attack, only then did the team use their weapons in a final attempt to stop the vehicle." It regretted the loss of lives and said its officials had been meeting with Iraqi authorities and were cooperating with their investigations." URG employees told AFP Thursday that they always followed strict protocols but that the situation in Iraq was extremely difficult because the envinroment was so unstable. Unlike other security operators, in particular Blackwater, "we work with Iraqis, who are generally drivers and machine-gun shooters," a Europe-based staffer said on condition of anonymity. "In traffic, overtaking vehicles should stop on our arrival and allow us to pass. If they don't we can use several means to make them stop. "Our vehicles are equipped with sirens and loudspeakers run by the Iraqi drivers, who clearly warn drivers not to get too close," he said. They then throw plastic water bottles, flash strobe lights and fire flare guns, but if all else fails "we proceed to warning shots, first in the air, then in front or to the side of the vehicle, on the hood, and then at the driver as a last resort." If the shooter is Iraqi he has to ask for formal permission to fire from the head of the convoy, if he is not it is left to the judgement of the individual, the URG source said. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: [email protected] Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. 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