Iran is ready to send paramilitary volunteers to Britain to help "establish security and stability" in the wake of widespread rioting, Iranian media reported on Friday.

A wave of riots and looting engulfed many British cities in recent days, leaving at least five people dead.

Basij Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Naghdi said, "We are ready to send Basij detachments as a peacekeeping force to London, Liverpool, Birmingham and other cities to help restore order and stability in Britain."

He said the volunteers would act as "peacekeepers between police and protestors," adding that the detachments would only be deployed with UN permission.

The military official described the situation in Britain as "people's demonstrations against tyranny," saying that the London's description of the events as "disturbances" was not true.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad condemned on Thursday British police actions against the rioters, saying they were excessive.

London police have refrained from using any riot control weapons or firearms against rioters in the past four days. However, an emergency COBRA meeting resolved that harsher measures are needed to curb the rioting.

Violence began in the British capital's northern district of Tottenham on Saturday over the fatal shooting of a young man by police. On Sunday and Monday, it spread to other areas in London and Birmingham.