Iraqi officials say a car bomb has exploded in the country's south, killing at least 32 people and wounding at least 45 others.
Police say Wednesday's blast targeted a busy market district in the
town of Bathaa, near the southern city of Nasiriya. No one has claimed
responsibility for the assault.
The mainly Shi'ite area is about 300 kilometers southeast of Baghdad
and was the site of fierce internal fighting between Shi'ite militia
factions before a cease-fire took hold.
Bombings are regular occurrences in Iraq, but overall violence has sharply declined in recent months.