UK firms in Iraq 'unaccountable'

There are up to 20,000 private security guards working in Iraq

Private companies providing military services in Iraq are in urgent need of regulation and human rights training, Amnesty International has urged.

The group is concerned that firms appear to be unaccountable for any potential human rights abuses.

UK Director of Amnesty Kate Allen said there is a real need for legislation to control their conduct.

But the Foreign Office responded that contractors are now completely accountable to the Iraqi government.

A spokesman for the Foreign Office told BBC News Online that every company has to register with an Iraqi government committee.

He said: "That registration involves signing up to a certain number of restrictions on their activities.

"The Iraqis are 100% responsible for monitoring those activities."

He added that the contractors are obliged to obey Iraqi laws but do have immunity for actions carried out "in pursuance of their contract".

Human rights

Earlier, Kate Allen told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We have got serious concerns about the lack of accountability of the private military and security firms that are operating in Iraq at the moment.

"There really is need for legislation to control and monitor their activities.

"There is absolutely no legal or regulatory requirements for them to include training around international human rights or humanitarian law and the lack of this sort of training is what leads to things going seriously wrong."

The are 15-20,000 private security and military personnel guarding contractors, aid workers, diplomats and others.

The Foreign Office itself employs private security firms to protect officials in Iraq.