Select Committee on Foreign Affairs Written Evidence


Annex B

20.  RULES OF ENGAGEMENT (RoE) INSTRUCTIONS TO OPEN FIRE IN IRAQ

AUTHORISATION

General Rules

  1.  In all situations you are to use the minimum force necessary. FIREARMS (LETHAL FORCE) MUST ONLY BE USED AS A LAST RESORT, and only when applicable to the Contractor role. This does not include any aspect of law enforcement.

  2.  Your weapon must always be made safe; that is, NO live round is to be carried in the breech and in the case of automatic weapons the working parts are to be forward, unless you are authorised to carry a live round in the breech or you are about to fire.

  3.  A challenge MUST be given before opening fire unless in your judgement:

    (a)  To do so would increase the risk of death or grave injury to you, the client or other contractors' personnel.

    (b)  You, the client or other personnel in the immediate vicinity are being engaged by hostile forces.

  4.  You are to challenge by shouting:

    "SECURITY: STOP OR I FIRE" or words to that effect.

    "haRASa! Kif wala ARMEEK!" (Above words in Arabic).

OPENING FIRE

  5.  You may only open fire against a person:

    (a)  If in your judgement he * is committing or about to commit an act LIKELY TO ENDANGER YOUR LIFE OR THE LIFE OF THE CLIENT OR OTHER CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL, AND THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO PREVENT THE DANGER. The following are some examples of acts where life could be endangered, dependent always upon the circumstances:

    (1)  firing or being about to fire a weapon;

    (2)  planting, detonating or throwing an explosive device; and

    (3)   deliberately driving a vehicle at a person and where it is assessed there is no other way of stopping him*.

    (b)  If you know that he* has just killed or injured the CLIENT OR OTHER CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL by which means he* CONTINUES TO PRESENT A CLEAR AND HOSTILE THREAT TO YOU, THE CLIENT OR OTHER CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL.

    "She" or "her" can be read instead of "he" or "him" if applicable.

  6.  If you have to open fire you should:

    (a)  fire only aimed shots,

    (b)  fire no more rounds than are necessary,

    (c)  take all reasonable precautions not to injure anyone other than your target.

  The APT provided by the Contractor will comply with the Rules of Engagement enforced by the Iraqi Authority.

  Following the drawing of any weapon outside the CPA restricted area or the firing of any weapon by Contractor's staff there will be a full inquiry conducted jointly by FCO, the Contractor and an independent third party nominated by the FCO. A full report will be submitted to FCO London within 48 hours.

  Any incident involving the injury or death of any person will result in the responsible person being evacuated out of Iraq as soon as possible for their own protection and the protection of others.


 
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