Blackwater–who recently killed 17 unarmed Iraqi civilians, while failing to hit a single one of the mystery ‘insurgents’ they claimed they were shooting at–and other Rambo wannabe scum are about to have their immunity from prosecution lifted by the Iraqi government:

The Iraqi government has approved a draft law revoking the immunity from prosecution private security contractors enjoy under Iraqi law.

The law, which has been referred to parliament, would revoke an order set up after the US-led invasion in 2003.

…..

“The cabinet today approved a new draft law which puts all private security companies under the Iraqi law,” Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said.

“These companies will not get immunity and will be subject to Iraqi law.”

Foreign guards would also be subject to searches at Iraqi checkpoints and be required to carry licences for weapons, Mr Dabbagh said.

Report here.

The Times reports:

King Abdullah II of Saudi Arabia was greeted by jeers and placards as he began his state visit to Britain this afternoon as dozens of demonstrators turned out to protest at his country’s human rights record.

About 50 human rights protestors and anti-arms trade activists mingled with the crowds lining The Mall as the monarch accompanied the Queen in a carriage on their way to Buckingham Palace.

King Abdullah’s visit has been shrouded in controversy over oppressive policies against gays and women in the Middle Eastern kingdom and the war on terror.

Protesters, including Peter Tatchell, the gay rights activist, chanted “King Abdullah, torturer, murderer” and held banners marked “Put human rights before BAe profits” and “You can’t do this in Riyadh” as the procession went past.

…..

Symon Hill, of the Campaign Against The Arms Trade, said … “It’s hard to think Britain can have an influence in the world criticising Mugabe’s despotism if the Saudi dictator is welcomed to a banquet at Buckingham Palace.”

A man out hunting in Iowa was shot in the leg after a hunting dog stepped on his gun, authorities said.

BBC news.

Last week I wrote a column about the obstacles pro-democracy Iranians encounter when they look beyond their borders for support and solidarity. I mentioned the important work being done by a young Iranian émigré blogger in Canada, Arash Kamangir, a 28-year-old University of Manitoba student who tracks dozens of Persian-language blogs, translates his findings and posts regularly at his English-language site, Kamangir.net.

After the column appeared, Arash and I traded notes on how he might determine the veracity of a suspicious Iranian Press TV report (also carried in Persian FARS News, which cited AFP as its source) which claimed Norway’s Foreign Minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, had said western countries should back off in their pressure on Tehran and should dismantle their own nuclear capabilities instead.

Kamangir did some digging (of the kind the “professional journalists” at AFP should have done in the first place) and discovered that what Støre really said was rather more nuanced than Iranian readers were allowed to know. He reported his findings.

Now, a group of conservative Iranian MPs has publicly attacked Kamangir. They are accusing him of being some kind of stooge for American neoconservatives. They have also published Kamangir’s real name and a photograph of him.

Kamangir presents reason to be believe that the stoolie in this escapade is none other than Hossein Derakhshan (Hoder), a darling of the Guardian.

Here’s Samira Mohyeddin on the dubious Mr. Derakhshan. Here’s Danny Postel raising similar, troubling questions.

UPDATE, OF A KIND: Arash draws my attention to an urgent call for action in the case of Makwan Moloudzadeh, a 21-year-old Iranian Kurd who faces imminent execution after confessing to having had a sexual relationship with another boy, seven years ago. Moloudzadeh’s confession came after a reportedly brutal “interrogation,” and after the police shaved his head, put him on a donkey and paraded him through the streets so people could throw things at him. His accusers have withdrawn their charges, and the alleged witnesses have renounced the testimony attributed to them, but Iranian authorities are planning to lynch Moloudzadeh anyway.