New rules for Iraq contractors
Private security contractors will have to coordinate their operations with military authorities, under new rules announced by the U.S. and Iraqi governments. The agreement also spells out when contractors may shoot in self-defense. For instance, security personnel may not open fire on an approaching vehicle unless they see specific evidence that it poses a risk. The accord follows an incident in September, when contractors employed by Blackwater USA killed 17 Iraqi civilians. The new rules do not clarify whether contractors can be prosecuted under U.S. or Iraqi law.
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