Baghdad security job for Diana's bodyguard

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Snip from Observer

The former soldier who nearly died in Paris crash faces new challenge in Iraq

Jason Burke in Baghdad and Anushka Asthana
Sunday September 12, 2004
The Observer

First he survived a horrific crash and the media frenzy that followed. Now Trevor Rees-Jones, the bodyguard who nearly died with Princess Diana and Dodi al-Fayed when their car ploughed into a tunnel wall in Paris seven years ago, is facing what may be his toughest test of all: working as a security expert in Baghdad.
Rees-Jones, 35, arrived in the Iraqi capital earlier this year to work for a European telecoms company, which cannot be named for security reasons. His duties include protection of key personnel as they travel in the city and arranging security for their offices.

The former British soldier is believed to be based in the 'international zone' in the centre of Baghdad, a high-security area where diplomats, the new Iraqi government and many private companies are based. The zone is heavily guarded by American soldiers but is still attacked with mortars almost every day. Residents call the morning strikes the 'dawn chorus'.

Rees-Jones, who spent six years with the Parachute Regiment and served in Northern Ireland, is believed to carry a weapon much of the time. Almost all security contractors in Baghdad, and especially those involved with close protection of western specialists and officials, are armed.

Rees-Jones has been seen at Baghdad airport, which is on the outskirts of the city and one of its most dangerous places.
One of his jobs is to ensure the safety of technical experts travelling to and from the airport. The road to the airport, though heavily patrolled by US and Iraqi troops, is frequently ambushed and security companies usually rush their clients along it in a convoy of heavily armoured vehicles. All planes landing at the airport 'corkscrew' down to cut the threat from surface-to-air missiles.
More:
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1302823,00.html