U.S. warns Iraq contractors of immunity loss
Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 1:33 amU.S. warns Iraq contractors of immunity loss
« Thread Started on Nov 20, 2008, 5:54pm »
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U.S. warns Iraq contractors of immunity loss
Posted: 06:48 PM ET
WASHINGTON (CNN) — The Pentagon and State Department have told their contractors that they will not longer enjoy criminal and civil immunity in Iraq after the end of the year.
Senior officials from both departments told reporters that they’ve warned contractors that, starting January 1, 2009, they will be subject to Iraqi criminal and civil law.
Iraq’s Parliament is expected to vote on a U.S.-Iraqi security agreement early next week.
The agreement would replace the United Nations mandate authorizing the presence of US troops and would take effect January 1, 2009.
Currently, U.S. contractors are exempt from Iraqi law. But a section of the Status of Forces Agreement pertaining to Pentagon contractors says “primary jurisdiction falls to the government of Iraq,” the senior Defense department official said.
status of contractors became an explosive issue after a deadly incident involving U.S. security contractors last year.
Iraqi authorities accused Blackwater guards of killing 17 civilians and wounding nearly 30 in the shootings. But Blackwater has repeatedly said its guards were acting “in response to a hostile threat.”
« Thread Started on Nov 20, 2008, 5:54pm »
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. warns Iraq contractors of immunity loss
Posted: 06:48 PM ET
WASHINGTON (CNN) — The Pentagon and State Department have told their contractors that they will not longer enjoy criminal and civil immunity in Iraq after the end of the year.
Senior officials from both departments told reporters that they’ve warned contractors that, starting January 1, 2009, they will be subject to Iraqi criminal and civil law.
Iraq’s Parliament is expected to vote on a U.S.-Iraqi security agreement early next week.
The agreement would replace the United Nations mandate authorizing the presence of US troops and would take effect January 1, 2009.
Currently, U.S. contractors are exempt from Iraqi law. But a section of the Status of Forces Agreement pertaining to Pentagon contractors says “primary jurisdiction falls to the government of Iraq,” the senior Defense department official said.
status of contractors became an explosive issue after a deadly incident involving U.S. security contractors last year.
Iraqi authorities accused Blackwater guards of killing 17 civilians and wounding nearly 30 in the shootings. But Blackwater has repeatedly said its guards were acting “in response to a hostile threat.”