Eight die in Iraq car bomb attacks

on 17/03/2013 11:30:19

Eight people have been killed and 21 others injured after two car bombs exploded in the south of Iraq, according to authorities.

Two police officials said that the first blast took place near a parking lot near the Tax Department in the centre of Basra.

Fifteen minutes later, a second bomb went off near an outdoor market in another part of the oil-rich city. Basra is 340 miles (550km) south-east of Baghdad.

Both police officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorised to talk to the media.

Basra lawmaker Suzan al-Saad confirmed the casualties.

Attacks are rare in Shiite-dominated Basra, which is considered relatively violence-free compared to other parts of the country.