We have our Blackwaters…..the Brits have theirs……

Private security firms operating in Iraq are committing human rights abuses, a charity has claimed.

A report by War on Want says no prosecutions have been brought despite hundreds of complaints of abuse.

It says UK ministers are increasingly using private security firms with a total of 48,000 employees in Iraq - six to every British soldier.

And the charity is calling on the government to introduce legislation to ban private security in war zones.

John Hilary, campaigns and policy director of War on Want, said: “The occupation of Iraq has allowed British mercenaries to reap huge profits.

We call on the government to introduce tough legislation as a matter of urgency to ban the use of mercenaries.

“But the government has failed to enact laws to punish their human rights abuses, including firing on Iraqi civilians.

“How can Tony Blair hope to restore peace and security in Iraq while allowing mercenary armies to operate completely outside the law?

Read more at BBC News