BAGHDAD, Oct 30: The Iraqi cabinet on Tuesday backed a law that revokes the immunity granted to private security firms operating in the country, after a deadly shooting involving a US contractor.

“The cabinet today approved a new draft law which puts all private security companies under the Iraqi law,” government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said.

“These companies will not get immunity and will be subject to Iraqi law.” Dabbagh said the bill would soon be presented to parliament for approval.

The issue of immunity has been hotly debated after a series of shootouts involving private security guards, including a Sept 16 incident when employees of the US company Blackwater fired on civilians in Baghdad, killing 17.

The Blackwater shooting laid bare a lack of accountability for firms working for the US State Department. Last Wednesday, the cabinet announced it had decided to formally revoke the immunity enjoyed by the foreign private security companies operating in Iraq. The draft law intends to replace the article covering security companies that was issued by the US-led Coalition Provision Authority set up in 2003 after the invasion of Iraq.

The relevant order issued by then US administrator for Iraq, Paul Bremer, stipulates that the “multinational force, foreign liaison missions, their personnel, property, funds and assets and all international consultants shall be immune from Iraqi legal process.”—AFP