The southern Iraqi city of Basra is essentially under the control of British invasion forces and a local tribal leader will help form a new leadership there, a British military spokesman said on Tuesday. "The British troops are in control of the city although it will take a few days yet to cement the town as it did in Umm Qasr and al Zubayr," said spokesman Chris Vernon, referring to two other southern towns that saw lingering Iraqi resistance. Vernon said that a local tribal leader, whom he identified only as "a sheikh," would form the leadership within the Basra province.

"This person approached us, we met with him last night...We have ascertained that he is worthwhile, credible, has authority in the local area particularly with the tribal chiefs," he said.

"He will now form his own committee. Who he wishes to come onto that is entirely up to him," Vernon added.

PHOTO CAPTION

An unidentified man stands at a window inside the looted Sheraton Hotel in Basra, Iraq , April 7 2003. Looting has become rife in the city after British troops guarded by tanks and helicopter gunships walked unopposed into the city on Monday, meeting a warm reception in the narrow streets of the old quarter. (Pool/Reuters)