French military contractor killed in Libya

BENGHAZI, Libya — The head and founder of a French military contracting company was killed in an accidental discharge of a weapon in the rebel stronghold of Benghazi as he was arguing about his team getting arrested, a rebel commander said Friday 13th May.

In Paris, the private military company SECOPEX Conseil said Pierre Marziali died Thursday at a Benghazi hospital after being wounded at a checkpoint as he and colleagues were leaving a restaurant overnight.

Marziali, 48, died hours before a planned meeting with the transitional government of rebels fighting Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's forces. He was in Libya to set up a security guard service and a "secure corridor" on the road to Cairo, the company said.

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Afghanistan: 5 private security guards killed

Kabul, 3rd May 2011: Five private security guards have been killed by a NATO air strike today.

Afghan police reported that the contractors were guarding a supply convoy for international troops. NATO confirmed the strike in Ghazni province but contradicted the police report by suggesting the attack was on suspected insurgents (terrorists in other words).

Afghan officials said there were no insurgents involved.

"This morning, there was some sort of incident between an American convoy and security guards from Watan Risk," said Zirawer Zahid, the police chief of Ghazni. He was referring to Watan Risk Management, a private company that supplies guards for convoys, offices and international organizations.

More to follow on this story.