BASRA, April 8: British forces called on the help of a senior tribal leader to restore civilian rule to Basra as they faced criticism on Tuesday for their failure to prevent a looting spree after their capture of Iraq’s main southern city.

British spokesman Colonel Chris Vernon revealed that senior officers had met with a “sheikh”, whom he refused to name, who would draw up an interim committee to run the city after the collapse of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein’s authority here.

“He will form, at present, the leadership within the Basra province and we have asked him to from the local community a committee that he thinks is representative of local people,” said Vernon.

“We asked him to go away and form an initial committee to achieve a degree of civil administration.”

Vernon said that British forces would now seek to prevent a repetition of the widespread looting that was seen in Basra on Monday after thousands of British forces swept into the city at the end of a near two-week encirclement.

British forces did not intervene in the looting spree because their primary mission was combat, he said.

But the owner of Basra’s main Sheraton Hotel was furious with the British for not stopping looters trashing his business, stealing beds, furniture and electronic equipment.

“For three days we had asked the British to patrol this area to bring some tanks in here, but they didn’t do it,” Riyadh al-Ammar said.

“Everything has been stolen,” he added as smoke smouldered from the roof of the building.

Locals continued to celebrate the downfall of Saddam, by destroying symbols of the Iraqi leader’s rule.

Hundreds roared their approval when his picture was ripped from its stand in the centre of the old town by three soldiers from the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards.

They then picked up the giant six foot (two-metre) circular image and rolled it towards a nearby bridge before dumping it into the water below.

“It’s a great feeling to be able to bring such happiness to these people. That picture was a symbol of a regime which has treated them very badly over the years and we’re proud to have played our part today,” said Sergeant Alan Hainey, one of the Scottish soldiers.

Vernon said Saddam and his ruling Baath party were now a spent force in Basra.

“Basra is now free and final elements of the vicious Baathist control is now extinguished,” he told reporters in Kuwait City.

The main streets of the city were bustling with activity on Tuesday and children greeted patrols by British tanks with chants of “thank you, thank you”.

But the human toll of the fighting between the British and Saddam’s diehard followers was evident in the city’s Saddam Teaching Hospital.

Surgeon Muayad Jumah said that more than 1,000 people had been wounded in the battle for the city, many women and children.—AFP