BAGHDAD (AFP) — The Iraqi government warned private security companies on Tuesday to act within the law after it detained 43 people, mostly Asians, following a shooting in central Baghdad in which a girl was wounded.
Those involved in Monday's shooting will be brought to trial, Brigadier General Qasim Ata, spokesman for the Baghdad security plan, warned at a news conference.
"They just opened fire randomly," he said, clearly angry.
"Unfortunately, some members of these companies ignore the regulations and make light of the blood of Iraqi citizens. We call on all security companies to comply with the laws, regulations and instructions issued by the Iraqi government, otherwise we will be forced to deal strictly with them."
There has been mounting controversy over the operations of private security contractors in Iraq since a shooting in September in which guards of Blackwater USA gunned down civilians in a Baghdad square.
The shooting by guards of the Dubai-based Almco Group in Baghdad's Karrada neighbourhood on Monday when the streets were crowded with shoppers caused pandemonium, witnesses said.
Iraqi troops fired in the air to stop the guards from escaping, while crowds threw stones at them once they had been rounded up, they said.
"Investigators are interrogating the detained people in an Iraqi army camp," Ata said.
"Those involved in the firing will be tried according to Iraqi laws for three crimes -- driving on the wrong side of the road, firing randomly and shooting a girl," he said.
"There are 10 Iraqis, 21 Sri Lankans, nine Nepalese, one Indian and two Fijians holding US passports. They are in custody and their vehicles have been confiscated."
US military spokesman Major Winfield Danielson told AFP that Almco Group was contracted to the US military in Iraq.
"But we haven't confirmed whether or not they were supporting our contract at the time of the incident," he said.
Thousands of Asian workers are employed in the service industry connected to the vast US military operation in Iraq. It is believed those detained were being escorted by Iraqi security guards at the time of the incident.
Almco, which has contracts to provide food and water to military transition teams, has not commented.
A policeman at the scene said the incident was "unprovoked."
"A truck was transporting Asian workers through Karrada, escorted by three vehicles. They were driving on the wrong side of the road and guards in the vehicle opened fire to disperse people," he told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity because he is not authorised to talk to the media.
An Iraqi soldier, who would not be named but who participated in the arrests, said the incident occurred as security forces were conducting a routine patrol.
"Three 4WD cars surprised us. They were driving on the wrong side of the road. Security individuals were shooting in the crowded street. I saw a girl fall to the ground," he said.
"We immediately stopped their convoy. They tried to escape. When they disobeyed our orders to stop, we fired in the air. Then we shot the tyres of one of the vehicles and forced them to stop.
"Locals threw stones at them and some were injured by the stones."
Abu Hussein, 34, who also witnessed the incident, said crowds had thrown stones at the detainees believing they were militants.
"I heard shootings and noise. The security company's cars complied with the military's orders but the truck driver tried to escape down an alleyway. The troops fired in the air and at the truck, which forced him to pull up," said Hussein.
"The truck driver, who is Iraqi, and some people who seemed to be Asian tried to escape but Iraqi troops surrounded and arrested them."
Last week, the New York Times reported that the FBI had found in its initial investigation that at least 14 Iraqis were killed without justification in the September 16 shooting involving Blackwater.
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