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**slima** · 04-28-2008, 08:49 PM

Posted by Punzie on Oct 4th, 2007

Russia Angry Over Iraq Security Incident

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
October 3, 2007

MOSCOW (AP) -- Russia voiced anger Wednesday over what it said was inappropriate treatment of its diplomats by a private security firm in Iraq.

The Foreign Ministry said armed employees of a company it identified as ''Global'' sought to search a vehicle belonging to the Russian Embassy and threatened violence during an incident Monday at the Baghdad airport.

It was apparently referring to London-based Global Strategies Group.

The actions were a ''rude violation'' of international rules governing the treatment of diplomats and could have led to ''serious consequences,'' the ministry said.

''Thanks to the restraint and composure of our diplomats and their clear and proper actions, the incident was resolved,'' it said.

The complaint from Russia, a vocal critic of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, came amid concerns over the role of security contractors in Iraq following a shootout that left 11 Iraqi civilians dead. The private security firm Blackwater USA is under investigation for its role in the Sept. 16 shootout in Baghdad.

The Foreign Ministry said Russia hopes the incident at the Baghdad airport will be ''reviewed with all seriousness by the official Iraqi authorities, including in the context of efforts toward the legal regulation of their relations with foreign private security structures.''

Global Strategies Group, which has been working in Iraq since the country's 2003 U.S.-led invasion, provides security services at Baghdad International Airport.

Six telephone calls and three e-mails seeking comment were not immediately returned by the company's London or Washington, D.C. offices.

The Foreign Ministry said Russia registered a formal protest with the Iraqi Embassy in Moscow and that Iraq's Foreign Ministry had apologized.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/worl...ssia-Iraq.html

04-28-2008, 08:49 PM	#11
slima Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 543 Senior Member	*Posted by Punzie on Oct 4th, 2007* Russia Angry Over Iraq Security Incident By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS October 3, 2007 MOSCOW (AP) -- Russia voiced anger Wednesday over what it said was inappropriate treatment of its diplomats by a private security firm in Iraq. The Foreign Ministry said armed employees of a company it identified as ''Global'' sought to search a vehicle belonging to the Russian Embassy and threatened violence during an incident Monday at the Baghdad airport. It was apparently referring to London-based Global Strategies Group. The actions were a ''rude violation'' of international rules governing the treatment of diplomats and could have led to ''serious consequences,'' the ministry said. ''Thanks to the restraint and composure of our diplomats and their clear and proper actions, the incident was resolved,'' it said. The complaint from Russia, a vocal critic of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, came amid concerns over the role of security contractors in Iraq following a shootout that left 11 Iraqi civilians dead. The private security firm Blackwater USA is under investigation for its role in the Sept. 16 shootout in Baghdad. The Foreign Ministry said Russia hopes the incident at the Baghdad airport will be ''reviewed with all seriousness by the official Iraqi authorities, including in the context of efforts toward the legal regulation of their relations with foreign private security structures.'' Global Strategies Group, which has been working in Iraq since the country's 2003 U.S.-led invasion, provides security services at Baghdad International Airport. Six telephone calls and three e-mails seeking comment were not immediately returned by the company's London or Washington, D.C. offices. The Foreign Ministry said Russia registered a formal protest with the Iraqi Embassy in Moscow and that Iraq's Foreign Ministry had apologized. Copyright 2007 The Associated Press http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/worl...ssia-Iraq.html
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