The fast-expanding industry of private military companies…should be self-regulating, the government is to propose…in a long-awaited consultation paper expected to be released by the Foreign Office today. Ministers are understood to have concluded that self-regulation is the most practical answer to a problem fraught with political and legal difficulties. However, the government's preferred solution was criticised yesterday by human rights groups and questioned by the Red Cross…Tim Hancock, Amnesty International campaigns director, said: "There are a large number of British-based, private military and security companies operating in conflict zones ... if the government does propose a self-regulatory system it would effectively grant them impunity…” [refers to Sandline, Aegis]