Five killed and at least 70 hurt in market blasts

Five people were killed and dozens of others injured when two car bombs exploded at a livestock in southern Iraq, an official said today.

The head of the provincial council, Jubair al-Jabouri, said 70 people were wounded in the attack in Diwaniyah.

He blamed the blasts on al-Qa'ida, though there was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Diwaniyah is 80 miles (130km) south of Baghdad.

Violence in Iraq has fallen since the height of sectarian fighting in 2006 and 2007, but deadly attacks are still frequent.

Today's attacks come a day after bombings in Baghdad and towns south of the Iraqi capital killed at least 22 people.

AP