immunity from prosecution WASHINGTON, Oct 4, SPA -- Congress is moving to update a law thathas kept Blackwater USA and other private securitycontractors in Iraq immune to criminal prosecution. TheWhite House contends the change could cause new problems, AP reported. The House of Representives was expected to pass onThursday legislation by Democratic Rep. David Price thatwould extend the criminal jurisdiction of U.S. courts toany federal contractor working alongside militaryoperations. Senate Democratic leaders said they planned topass the law quickly and send the measure to PresidentGeorge W. Bush to sign into law. The legislation comes amid a string of allegationsinvolving Blackwater USA employees hired by the StateDepartment to protect diplomatic personnel in Iraq. In onecase, a drunk Blackwater employee left a party in Baghdadand fatally shot the guard of one of Iraq's vicepresidents. The contractor was fired, fined and returnedhome to the United States, but no charges have been filed. More recently, Blackwater guards were involved in a Sept. 16 shootout that left at least 11 Iraqis dead. The FBI iscurrently investigating the incident. But whether charges can be brought against any of thecontractors is unclear. Generally, new laws cannot be applied retroactively andcurrent laws governing the conduct of U.S. personnel abroadnot hired directly by the military are murky. The currentlaw, called the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act,covers personnel supporting the mission of DefenseDepartment operations overseas. Because Blackwater's primary mission is to protect StateDepartment officials, defense lawyers would likely arguesuccessfully that the law does not apply. At the same time, U.S. contractors are immune fromprosecution by Iraqi courts. White House officials say they support increasingaccountability of contractors abroad, but worry that theHouse bill is too vague and may go too far. Anadministration statement issued Wednesday said the billwould have «unintended and intolerable consequences forcrucial and necessary national security activities andoperations.» The statement did not explain further or giveexamples.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/488084