Police shoot robber 'in self-defence'

Sydney Police claim they acted in self-defence when they shot a man dead at a pub in the city's south-west overnight, Australia's ABC News reported today.

Detectives say five plainclothes officers were investigating a string of armed robberies when they went into the High Flyer Hotel in Condell Park at about 8.40pm and saw two men trying to rob the pub.

One of them was armed with a machete, acting assistant commissioner Geoff Beresford told the ABC.

"Police officers were confronted with a life-threatening situation, (they) were forced to use their firearms," he said.

The assistant commissioner said the detectives, from the State Crime Command, did not have Tasers or batons.

"These officers were armed with firearms only," he said.

The assistant commissioner said police fired five shots, killing one of the robbers on the spot.

The other man was shot in the upper body and is recovering in hospital, the ABC reported.

Police are seeking a third man who was seen driving away shortly after the shooting.