Private guards to lose Iraq immunity
James Hider; 4/7/08
Private security guards operating in Iraq will lose their immunity from prosecution under a treaty being negotiated between Iraq and the US, Iraq’s Foreign Minister said yesterday. The new accord, part of a hotly disputed Status of Forces Agreement that will govern the legal standing of US forces in Iraq after the UN mandate expires in December, will affect tens of thousands of bodyguards, including many Australians. Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said the Americans had agreed to drop the immunity as part of their more “flexible” approach in talks on security, which have sparked anger among many Iraqis, who regard the deal as an effort to extend US control over the country.
See: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23964883-2703,00.html
Tags: Australia, Iraq, Mercenaries, Terrorism, USA