Five Iraqi bank robbers have been shot and killed by British forces during looting in Basra.
One British soldier was shot in the stomach after the robbers opened fire.
The patrol from the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards initially thought the bank robbers were looters but was then shot at with what were believed to be Kalashnikovs.
A British military source said: "They came across what they thought were looters, then they were fired on. This group were trying to rob a bank.
"The soldiers returned fire, killing five of the robbers and one soldier was shot.
"This was not British soldiers being gung-ho, they were fired on.
"If you let this sort of thing happen there would be Bedlam out there."
The source said Saddam Hussein's regime was believed to have let prisoners out of jails.
"We think they emptied the prisons and this is a danger we face."
Allied forces have not prevented widespread looting in Basra and other cities.
But US military spokesman Brigadier General Vince Brooks said: "There is certain behaviour we are not tolerating out there."
AP