Army try to restore order in Basra

British forces in Basra turned their attention to restoring order in Iraq's second-largest city but were unable to quell heavy looting on the streets.

Young men cruised the streets in trucks, pickups and even bicycles, grabbing what they could -- ceiling fans, mattresses, car seats, furniture, even slabs of wood.

Hordes of people also picked through the wreckage of universities and government buildings damaged by coalition bombing.

British troops, who took control of the heart of Basra on Monday, rolled through in tanks and on foot, but did little to stop looting in front of them.

Colonel Chris Vernon, spokesman for the British forces, said the local police force would be utilised as much as possible to re-establish law enforcement.

Many Basra residents expressed anger that coalition forces were failing to control the lawlessness in the city of 1.3 million people.

"There is no civil life left. I am very afraid," said Hussein Kudur, a port worker who watched fellow residents plundering a badly damaged Sheraton Hotel along the river.

British military officials said the main effort was to carry out assessments of hospitals, government buildings and schools.

"So far, what we've found is a lot of looting going on. We're using loudspeakers to tell people not to loot because it makes it worse for everyone," Major Norrie Robertson said.

He said British forces would move to secure public facilities in the next few days since "we're turning the focus from fighting to helping the community."

Most watched News videos