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10-30-2007, 01:01 PM
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and Iraq's Cabinet Approves Lifting Immunity for Security Firms
By VOA News
30 October 2007
An Iraqi government spokesman says Iraq's cabinet has approved a law that lifts immunity from prosecution for private security firms in Iraq.
The spokesman, Ali al-Dabbagh, said Tuesday the measure will subject all security companies to Iraqi law and will revoke the immunity given to foreign security contractors by the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority in 2004.
He says the law is being referred to parliament for ratification.
U.S. officials have said a State Department promise of immunity to Blackwater USA guards may have compromised an investigation into last month's shooting deaths of 17 Iraqi citizens.
Blackwater guards are accused of killing the civilians in Baghdad on September 16. The security firm says the Iraqis were killed when guards responded lawfully to an attack on a U.S. diplomatic convoy.
FBI investigators say the probe has been hampered because the State Department gave guards immunity for statements, although the State Department had no authority to do so.
Some of the Blackwater guards have since refused to talk to the FBI, citing the promises of immunity.
Under State Department contractor rules, Diplomatic Security agents are charged with investigating and reporting all use of force incidents. But the FBI took over the investigation earlier this month.
U.S. Justice Department officials say a case can be made against Blackwater using other evidence, without using the guards' testimony to the State Department.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.
http://voanews.com/english/2007-10-30-voa28.cfm
and Iraq's Cabinet Approves Lifting Immunity for Security Firms
By VOA News
30 October 2007
An Iraqi government spokesman says Iraq's cabinet has approved a law that lifts immunity from prosecution for private security firms in Iraq.
The spokesman, Ali al-Dabbagh, said Tuesday the measure will subject all security companies to Iraqi law and will revoke the immunity given to foreign security contractors by the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority in 2004.
He says the law is being referred to parliament for ratification.
U.S. officials have said a State Department promise of immunity to Blackwater USA guards may have compromised an investigation into last month's shooting deaths of 17 Iraqi citizens.
Blackwater guards are accused of killing the civilians in Baghdad on September 16. The security firm says the Iraqis were killed when guards responded lawfully to an attack on a U.S. diplomatic convoy.
FBI investigators say the probe has been hampered because the State Department gave guards immunity for statements, although the State Department had no authority to do so.
Some of the Blackwater guards have since refused to talk to the FBI, citing the promises of immunity.
Under State Department contractor rules, Diplomatic Security agents are charged with investigating and reporting all use of force incidents. But the FBI took over the investigation earlier this month.
U.S. Justice Department officials say a case can be made against Blackwater using other evidence, without using the guards' testimony to the State Department.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.
http://voanews.com/english/2007-10-30-voa28.cfm