Iraqi troops detained 43 people on Monday after a private security convoy was involved in a shooting incident in Baghdad.

The U.S. military said on Tuesday that among the 43 people there were Sri Lankans, Nepalese and Iraqis.

An 18-year-old woman was wounded in the Karada neighborhood when the convoy opened fire on the crowded streets, AFP reports.

According to U.S. military spokesman, Major Winfield Danielson, the company involved in the incident was Almco Group, based in Dubai. The company is contracted by the U.S. military in Iraq.

Danielson said: “But we haven't confirmed whether or not they were supporting our contract at the time of the incident.”

The initial reports showed that the 43 people, detained at an Iraqi army camp, included 10 Iraqis, 21 Sri Lankans, nine Nepalese, one Indian and two Fijians.

"There are coalition forces staying with the detained individuals," he said.

Almco Group has a contract with the Multi-National Security Transition Command to provide food and water to military transition teams. The company didn’t comment upon the incident.

Since the shooting in September, when guards of Blackwater USA shot down 17 Iraqi civilians in Baghdad square, the operations of private security guards raised much controversy.

It is believed that the Asian workers, detained by the Iraqi military on Monday, were being deployed by Iraqi security guards. Many Asian workers are engaged in the service industry that is connected to the vast U.S. military operation in Iraq.

The detentions were confirmed by Ali al-Dabbagh, Iraqi government spokesman. He said: "They are being held by the army. We are investigating this incident. We will decide after the investigation whether we will release them.”

According to a policeman that witnessed the incident, it occurred around noon and it was not provoked.

"A truck was transporting Asian workers through Karrada, escorted by three vehicles. They were driving on the wrong side of the road and guards in the vehicle opened fire to disperse people," he said, AFP quotes.

He added that: "Iraqi security forces in the area immediately raced to the scene and surrounded the vehicles. A number of guards and Asian workers fled down a side street chased by the security forces and people from the neighborhood, who arrested them.

They were taken away by the Iraqi army."

Because of the incidents from October 10 and November 10, in which private security guards were involved, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki demanded that Blackwater leave Iraq.

The issue is discussed by the U.S. diplomats and military officials and the Iraqi government in a commission that will analyze the the deployment of private guards in Iraq.