MOSCOW, Oct 3 (Reuters) - Russia demanded on Wednesday that private security firms in Iraq be reined in after guards working for one company threatened to use guns against Russian diplomats as they tried to search embassy cars at Baghdad airport.

Embassies and the Iraqi government employ thousands of private security guards to protect buildings and convoys but their role is being questioned after 11 Iraqis died last month in a shootout involving the U.S.-based Blackwater security firm.

On Monday members of a group called Global Strategies Group employed by Iraq's Transport Ministry stopped cars from the Russian embassy at Baghdad airport and demanded to search them, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"Russian representatives were threatened with force which could have provoked a reaction and serious consequences," the ministry said.

"Thanks to the self restraint and composure of our diplomats and their sharp and competent actions the incident was able to be settled."

No spokesman for the London-based Global Strategies Group, which provides security at Baghdad's airport, could immediately be reached for a comment.

The incident broke diplomatic rules of immunity, the Russian statement said, and Moscow lodged an official complaint to the Iraqi government.

The founder of the Blackwater firm has been answering questions this week from U.S. lawmakers over the company's role in the Sept. 16 shooting which killed 11 Iraqi civilians while it was protecting a U.S. embassy convoy.

Blackwater has denied any wrong doing but the Iraqi government has suspended its contracts with the company -- the biggest private security contractor in Iraq -- and announced a review of all its other deals with security firms.

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