An Iraqi government spokesman says Iraqi security forces have arrested 43 people, including two Americans and 31 other foreigners, over a shooting in which a woman was wounded in central Baghdad.
"This is a message to security companies that no one is above the law," government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh told Reuters.
Mr Dabbagh said those arrested would appear before an investigating judge in Baghdad later today.
"Those involved will be put on trial and the innocent will be released," he said.
Mr Dabbagh said a convoy of workers being escorted by guards working for an Iraqi-registered security company was travelling through Baghdad's Karrada district on their way to the airport when they opened fire at civilians, wounding the woman.
The four-vehicle convoy included 21 Sri Lankans, nine Nepalese and one Indian worker. The security guards included 10 Iraqis and two Americans.
It was not clear who fired at the woman.
The role of foreign security guards has been under the spotlight since a September shooting in Baghdad involving private US security firm Blackwater in which 17 Iraqis died.
Immunity
Private security guards in Iraq usually have immunity from prosecution under a 2004 ruling by former US administrators.
Many Iraqis view the thousands of private security guards working in Iraq as little more than private armies who act with impunity.
The Blackwater shooting enraged Iraqis, prompting Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's government to draw up and approve a draft law to end the 2004 decree granting foreign guards immunity.
That draft law must still be passed by parliament before it comes into effect.
Blackwater, which guards US embassy staff in Baghdad and visiting dignitaries, says its guards acted lawfully and were responding to a hostile threat to a convoy they were guarding.
The incident sparked a flurry of investigations.
The Pentagon and US State Department have since agreed to tighten rules governing private security contractors.
Iraq says there are more than 180 mainly US and European security firms in the country, with estimates of the number of private security guards put at between 25,000 and 48,000.
