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The U.S. military and the Iraqi police said Saturday they have agreed to joint patrols to restore order in Baghdad.

Iraqi police Col. Mohammed Zaki said the patrols will start in a day or two.

The Marines confirmed the patrols will start, but said they didn't have a time.

"It's going to happen sooner rather than later," said Marine Staff. Sgt. Jeremy Stafford.

The measure was taken in response to increased looting in the capital and civilian demands that something be done about it.

"Anyone who carries a weapon or fires a weapon, we will fire at," Zaki said.

The agreement came after a day of meetings between the Marines and Iraqi police officials.

The Marines confirmed that a night curfew is under discussion, but it appeared the hours of the curfew have yet to be set.

In the southern city of Basra, which has also seen extensive looting, armored British troops were expected to join local, unarmed Iraqi police patrols in the next two days, a British spokesman said at U.S. Central Command. The arrangement is similar to joint patrols and peace support operations the British have put in place elsewhere, the spokesman said.

photo credit and caption:

Armed residents patrol the Mansour neighborhood of Iraq's capital Baghdad in an attempt to prevent looting Saturday April 12, 2003. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

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