Iraqi officials yesterday accused guards working for a foreign security company of firing randomly when they killed two women in the latest incident involving private security contractors.
Family members are preparing to bury the two women in the New Baghdad district in the Iraqi capital after the shooting on Tuesday at a Baghdad intersection involving guards working for Australian-owned, Dubai-based Unity Resources Group.
The company said it deeply regrets the incident and that the vehicle had failed to stop despite warnings.
Brigadier-General Qassim Moussawi, spokesman for Baghdad security, said the women encountered a convoy of four four-wheel-drive vehicles when they drove up to an intersection in Baghdad's Karrada district.
"It opened fire randomly, targeting an Oldsmobile vehicle being driven by the women. The incident made the two women martyrs," Moussawi said.
Unity Resources Group said in a statement its security team was approached at speed by a vehicle which, did not stop despite warnings that included hand signals and signal flares, after which shots were fired.
One witness said a warning shot was fired and the security guards opened fire when the driver continued to edge forward.
Many Iraqis see private security companies as little more than private armies which act with impunity. They are still angry over a September 16 shooting involving US firm Blackwater in which 17 Iraqis were killed.
Moussawi said Iraqi police and military are investigating the incident and urged the women's relatives to bring charges against the company.
The company has worked in Iraq since 2004 and employs former special forces and tactical police drawn from the United States, Britain, Australia and New Zealand. Its security escorts typically include Iraqi guards with foreign team leaders.
The Blackwater shooting brought private security contractors under the spotlight, with the incident now the subject of at least four investigations by Iraqi and US officials.
Between 25,000 and 48,000 private security guards work in Iraq under a 2004 law, drawn up while Iraq was still under US administration, which gives them immunity from Iraqi law.
Questions:
1. What is the name of the Australian security firm?
2. Brigadier-General Qassim Moussawi said the incident made the two women what?
3. How many Iraqis died in the Blackwater shooting?
4. Unity Resources Group employs guards from which countries?
Answers:
1. Unity Resources Group.
2. Martyrs.
3. 17.
4. United States, Britain, Australia and New Zealand.
（英语点津 Linda 编辑）
About the broadcaster:
Marc Checkley is a freelance journalist and media producer from Auckland, New Zealand. Marc has had an eclectic career in the media/arts, most recently working as a radio journalist for NewstalkZB, New Zealand’s leading news radio network, as a feature writer for Travel Inc, New Nutrition Business (UK) and contributor for Mana Magazine and the Sunday Star Times. Marc is also a passionate arts educator and is involved in various media/theatre projects in his native New Zealand and Singapore where he is currently based. Marc joins the China Daily with support from the Asia New Zealand Foundation.
