WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Rice yesterday ordered new measures to improve government oversight of private guards who protect American diplomats in Iraq, including tighter rules of engagement and a board to investigate any future killings.

The steps, recommended by an independent review panel she created after last month’s deadly Baghdad shooting involving Blackwater USA, would also require contractors to undergo training intended to make them more sensitive to Iraqi culture and language.

The changes to rules of engagement would bring the State Department closer to military rules. The State Department’s rules for contractors’ use of force were more detailed in some respects, but the panel found that the Pentagon had clearer rules for the steps a guard must take after identifying a threat.

The moves will not have much visible effect on the way private guards operate in Baghdad and elsewhere in Iraq: They will still escort diplomats in highly armed convoys like the one involved in the September 16 deaths of 17 Iraqis in a Baghdad square.

The State Department will set up panels that include security officials and others to look into each shooting or other use of deadly force by private guards and organize rapid response teams to investigate shooting incidents.

The department will also require contractors to have Arabic speakers on hand.

Ms. Rice also named a senior diplomat to oversee Iraq management issues. The official will report to Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte.