Officials: 2 car bombs kill 8 and wound 21 in southern Iraq

BAGHDAD – Iraqi authorities say two car bombs have killed eight people and wounded 21 others in the country's south.

Two police officials said that the first blast took place near a parking lot near the Tax Department in the center of Basra. Fifteen minutes later, a second bomb went off near an outdoor market in another part of the oil-rich city.

Basra is 550 kilometers (340 miles) southeast of Baghdad.

Both police officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized 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.