Iraq security contractor bans mobile phones

Texas: A US Defence Department security contractor has told workers to surrender personal mobile phones because of "a safety and security concern".

The Houston-based KBR Inc. did not specify the nature of the security threat but banned employees in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait from using the devices starting Saturday.

KBR said "any individual using a personal cell phone will be disciplined" and that the matter is under investigation.

A KBR worker told CNN he does not plan to comply, saying his life may be at risk without his mobile phone.

"KBR has a communication system, but as with any system it does fail and we can only communicate with another installation by use of the cell phones," he said.

KBR is involved in a number of scandals, including unaccounted war funds, inferior electrical work that led to the deaths of at least two US soldiers, and the alleged cover-up of cases of rape and abuse of employees in Iraq.