Iraq cabinet drafts bill to end foreign security firms immunity

The Iraqi cabinet today drafted a bill to be presented to parliament to end the immunity for foreign private companies to pave the way for court action against a US contractor.

The US private security company Blackwater is being held responsible for killing of 17 Iraqi civilians on September 16. The US company says it enjoys immunity granted by then US administrator of Iraq, Paul Bremer in 2004.

The Iraqi government says that Blackwater's mandate has expired and the immunity granted by Bremer is no longer valid.

The US company has secured over one billion dollar contracts after occupation of Iraq in 2003.

The Iraqi government says that the US should pay compensation for the victims to the amount it charged the Libyan government for the US citizens who died in an air disaster.