UNITED NATIONS, Oct 12: A UN report on Iraq faulted Multi-National Force and “private military firms” operating in the country for widespread human rights abuses and called for investigation.

“All credible allegations of unlawful killings by MNF forces be thoroughly, promptly and impartially investigated, and appropriate action be taken against military personnel found to have used excessive or indiscriminate force, and that the initiation of investigations into such incidents, as well as their findings, should be made public”, the report demanded. The report by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI)

issued recommended specific measures in response to the abuses, including due process for detainees, punishment for perpetrators of “honour killings”.

The eleventh Quarterly Human Rights report does not contain casualty statistics because the mission was “unable to persuade the government to release data” on the issue. The killing of 17 Iraqis in a shooting involving US security firm

Blackwater last month has created tensions between Baghdad and Washington and sparked calls for tighter controls on private contractors, who are immune from prosecution in Iraq.

The report called on the United States government to ensure that any private contractors committing offences in Iraq are prosecuted .holding them accountable for where the circumstances surrounding the killings show no justifiable cause.” It endorses the position of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) that relying on private military firms risks eroding the distinction between civilians and combatants.