Flexing muscle,Baghdad detains US contractors

The detentions have occurred largely at the airport in Baghdad and at checkpoints around the capital after the Iraqi authorities raised questions about the contractors documents,including visas,weapons permits and authorisations to drive certain routes. Although no formal charges have been filed,the detentions have lasted from a few hours to nearly three weeks.

The crackdown comes amid other moves by the Iraqi government to take over functions that had been performed by the US military and to claim areas of the country it had controlled.

Just after the last US troops left,Iraqis stopped issuing and renewing many weapons licenses and other authorisations.