LONDON, April 11 (Reuters) - Britain’s International Development Secretary Clare Short urged U.S. troops on Friday to restore law and order to Iraq’s chaotic capital, saying it was their duty under the Geneva Conventions.

"It’s an absolute priority that U.S. troops should bring order to Baghdad," Short told BBC Radio. "There must be a much bigger effort to stop all this looting and violence."

Short said the Geneva Conventions stipulated occupying forces must make sure civilians were cared for and kept the civilian administration running.

Short, who backed down on a threat to resign as a cabinet minister if Britain went to war, would not say if she now thought the U.S.-led military action in Iraq had been justified.