The independent Addustour newspaper said Monday, speaking on the occasion of the June 25 death of three Iraqi civilians at the hands of the security firm Blackwater, that the Iraqi government has been oblivious to the crimes committed by foreign private security companies -- a fact that encourages these firms to be more careless.

The editorial, running under the title "Security companies or gangs?" said private security contractors in Iraq crossed ethical, legal and human limits by, once again, killing three Iraqis at the Baghdad International Airport and then remaining at the scene to watch their bodies burn inside their vehicle.

The paper said the contractors employed by the private security firms are not afraid of any consequence to their actions because they are, as usual, above the law, while, at the same time, there is no law to defend or protect the Iraqi people from the contractors.

"The sovereignty, stability and dignity of the homeland and its people are only slogans used by Iraqi politicians ahead of the (provincial) elections," the newspaper said.

The Iraqi government has not taken any steps to hold these "criminals" responsible, and even the Iraqi Parliament failed to hold urgent meetings to investigate the incident.

The editorial said these "killers" from the foreign security firms were brought to Iraq under authority of the former head of the Coalition Provisional Authority, L. Paul Bremer. His decision regarding private security contractors later became law, while Iraqi lawmakers struggle to make provisions to counter the move in the Iraqi Constitution.

It said it is unjust to let these "murderers" carry on with their "immature behavior" while they pretend to do a favor for the people of Iraq. This is in spite of the realization by many Iraqi people that, prior to the U.S.-led invasion, these firms were nothing more than a group of thugs, the paper said.

"Paul Bremer let these gangs into Iraq and trained them to deeply violate the sovereignty of Iraq," it said.

The editorial went on to say that the Iraqi authorities were more concerned with demanding regulations for security contractors because of their ability to kidnap, kill or arrest Iraqi citizens without punishment.

The International Zone, or the Green Zone, is home to the Iraqi government as well as the U.S. Embassy and military forces. Private security companies provide security to Iraqi officials and other dignitaries.

The editorial highlighted the latest Blackwater incident as testament to the assault on the dignity and "sovereignty" of the Iraqi people.

"Human rights, laws and security committees (in Iraq) are not moving even one step forward to stop the behavior of these gangs," the newspaper said, noting the serious matter of the crime was an urgent matter that required swift resolution.

It added both U.S. and Iraq officials have paid little attention to the matter, despite the crimes being committed in a place under their strict supervision, such as the airport.

It said statements made by both sides assuring Iraq of its sovereignty and independence in decision-making were detached from reality because they allow foreign contractors to behave with impunity, a move that puts them on par with the insurgency.

Security contractors behave arrogantly and in a way that suggests Iraqis have little importance or value except for unfavorable criticisms from Iraqi authorities, the newspaper said.

The newspaper added that Iraqis, including government officials, are unable to pass through certain areas in Baghdad without being cleared or "recommended" by the security contractors, turning Iraq into a foreign country for the Iraqis.

"When U.S. and Iraqi officials discuss the sovereignty of Iraq, they must confirm the basic, yet unachieved, goals of political, security and economic independence," the political Addustour newspaper said.

It noted that Iraqi officials seem to trust the foreign security guards more than Iraqis in a way that portrays the "loyalty" of these gangs to Iraq and the Iraqi people.

It also painted an image of corruption for the renewed contracts given to the private security companies working in Iraq.

It concluded its comments by noting the committee investigating the crimes committed by private security contractors has yet to accomplish anything by way of holding them responsible for their crimes -- something that encourages them to commit further atrocities.

"By not charging the security companies, the Iraqi authorities are equal to them and an enemy with the people of Iraq," the daily Addustour said.