FT.com / Iraq - Civilian workers could face court martial

Financial Times FT.com

Civilian workers could face court martial

By Stephen Fidler in London and Demetri Sevastopulo in Washington

Published: January 10 2007 05:21 | Last updated: January 10 2007 05:21

Private military contractors in Iraq face the possibility of court martial following a move by the US Congress to strip them of immunity from military prosecution.

Congress recently passed legislation bringing defence contractors under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) in a move that could have significant ramifications for the estimated 100,000 private defence contractors in Iraq.