The US House of Representatives has passed a bill that would make private contractors working in Iraq and other combat zones subject to prosecution by
US courts.
The legislation was the first major response by Congress to a deadly shooting in Baghdad that involved Blackwater USA security guards and left at least 13 Iraqis dead.
Democrats called the 389-30 vote an indictment of the incident.
Senate Democratic leaders said they planned to follow with similar legislation and send a bill to President George W. Bush quickly.
