Iraq market explosion death toll hits 32

The death toll from an explosion in Iraq's Dhiqar province has reached 32 and is expected to further rise as some of the 70 injured are reported to be in critical condition. A sticky bomb planted on a car went off in a food market in the town of al-Bathaa, 30 km (20 miles) west of the capital Nassariya, when the market was packed with shoppers. Initial reports had put the death toll at 28 and the number of injured at 40. Children and women are said to form a considerable portion of the casualties. "We are now transporting the casualties to the General Hospital in Nasiriyah," al-Bathaa mayor Ali Fahad said. Al-Bathaa's police chief was immediately sacked following the deadly attack and an inquiry has been launched to determine whether police could have averted the tragedy. Local resident say they had told the police about a suspected car being parked near the market adding that the authorities did not pay attention to the report. Although bombings often happen in the capital Baghdad and the restive northern city of Mosul, attacks are rare in Dhiqar and its capital Nasiriyah.