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Iraq car bombings: Isis claims responsibility after two blasts kill at least 18 people in city of Samawa Iraq car bombings: Isis claims responsibility after two blasts kill at least 23 people in city of Samawa
(35 minutes later)
At least 18 people have been killed and up to 40 others wounded in a double car bomb attack claimed by Isis in Iraq, officials say. At least 23 people have been killed and up to 42 others wounded in a double car bomb attack claimed by Isis in Iraq, officials say.
The first explosives-laden car went off near government offices in the southern Iraqi city of Samawa, while the second exploded minutes later at an open-air bus station about 60 metres away. A police officer said two parked explosives-laden cars detonated within minutes of each other, around midday in the southern Iraqi city of Samawa.
The official said up to 40 people were wounded in both explosions, and he expected the death toll to rise.  The first car exploded near government offices, while the second exploded minutes later at an open-air bus station about 60 metres away.
The officer said he expected the death toll to rise.
Unverified online photographs showed a large plume of smoke rising above the buildings, as well as burnt out cars and bodies on the ground at the site of one of the blasts, including several children.Unverified online photographs showed a large plume of smoke rising above the buildings, as well as burnt out cars and bodies on the ground at the site of one of the blasts, including several children.
Police and firefighters carried victims on stretchers and in their arms.Police and firefighters carried victims on stretchers and in their arms.
Isis primarily holds positions in Sunni areas of the country's north and west, far from the mainly Shia southern provincies were Samawa is located. Such attacks are relatively rare.Isis primarily holds positions in Sunni areas of the country's north and west, far from the mainly Shia southern provincies were Samawa is located. Such attacks are relatively rare.
More follows The terror group claimed resonsibility for a bombing that killed at least 21 people and wounded many more, in an attack targeting Shia pilgrims on Saturday morning.
On Saturday, hundreds of supporters of the Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr stormed Iraq's parliament building in Baghdad, demonstrating against a government deadlock.
A state of emergency was declared in the capital as the unrest continued on Saturday afternoon. Security officials said entrances to the city had been shut as a "precautionary measure".