21 Lankans arrested in Iraq

Iraqi soldiers detained two US security guards along with 21 Sri Lankans, nine Nepalis and 10 Iraqis, after guards in their private convoy opened fire in Baghdad, wounding one woman.

A Foreign Ministry spokesman said yesterday they were in touch with the Lankan envoys in Kuwait and Lebanon to get further details as Sri Lanka does not have an embassy in Baghdad.

Deputy Foreign Minister Hussain Bhaila has also met the Iraqi Charge d Affaires in Colombo to ascertain more details. US military and embassy officials had no immediate information about the report by the Iraqi military, which follows a series of recent shootings in which foreign security guards have allegedly killed Iraqis.

Brig-General Qassim al-Moussawi said the convoy was driving on the wrong side of the road in the central Baghdad neighbourhood of Karradah when the shooting occurred. Those arrested included two US guards, along with 21 people from Sri Lanka, the Baghdad military spokesman said.

"We have given orders to our forces to immediately intervene in case they see any violations by security companies.

The members of this security company wounded an innocent woman and they tried to escape the scene, but Iraqi forces arrested them," Brig-Gen Al-Moussawi said.

The role of private security guards has been highlighted following a shooting on September 16 in which Blackwater Worldwide guards killed 17 Iraqi civilians. The FBI is investigating the shootings, although the Iraqi government has concluded that the guards were unprovoked when they began shooting at Nisoor Square in west Baghdad.

The North Carolina-based company, the largest private security firm protecting US diplomats in Iraq, has said its convoy was under attack before it opened fire. The shootings occurred on a day in which at least 22 people were killed or found dead.

ABC News reported yesterday that a US grand jury has opened an investigation into the deaths of the 17 Iraqis.

AP