Rice Orders Probe of Security in Baghdad

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice listens as French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner speaks during a joint news conference at the State Department in Washington, Friday, Sept. 21, 2007. The United States and France agree on how to pressure on Iran to abandon nuclear its nuclear ambitions, Rice said Friday. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (Susan Walsh - AP)

WASHINGTON -- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Friday she had ordered a "full and complete review" of security practices for U.S. diplomats in Iraq following a deadly weekend incident involving private guards protecting an embassy convoy.

Rice's announcement came as the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad resumed limited diplomatic convoys Friday under the protection of Blackwater USA outside the heavily fortified Green Zone, after they were suspended Tuesday because of the weekend incident in that city.

Rice said she had directed the State Department to examine "how we are providing security to our diplomats."

The review will include all aspects of protection, including the rules of engagement for security guards and under what jurisidiction they should be covered, department spokesman Sean McCormack said.

While on a plane returning from the Middle East to Washington, Rice ordered the review on Thursday in a phone call to the veteran diplomat who will lead it, Patrick Kennedy, a senior management official, according to McCormack. He said the review would be conducted as quickly as possible and might bring in outside experts.

U.S. diplomatic travel had been halted following Sunday's incident in which guards employed by Blackwater, a private security firm, opened fire in response to an alleged attack on a convoy.

At least 11 people, including Iraqi civilians, were killed in the firefight. Iraqi officials have called the incident a "crime" and initially called for Blackwater to be expelled from the country. Rice and other U.S. officials have urged the Iraqis to wait until investigations are complete before taking any permanent steps.

"We take very seriously what happened," Rice said, noting she had called Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Monday to express regret at the loss of innocent life.

Rice declined to comment on Friday's resumption of Blackwater-protected convoys but paid tribute to the guards from the firm, one of three that provide security for U.S. diplomats and other civilian government officials in Iraq.

"We have needed and received the protection of Blackwater for a number of years now and they have lost their own people in protecting our people in extremely dangerous circumstances," she said.

The United States and Iraq have agreed to form a joint commission to look into Sunday's incident and make recommendations to clarify confusing rules and regulations that govern the conduct of private security contractors in Iraq.

A senior official on al-Maliki's staff said the Iraqi government realizes that it may not be able to push through a ban on Blackwater USA because the Americans rely so heavily on security firms. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the issue is politically charged.