A state of emergency declared in the southern city of Basra has not helped put an end to the bloodshed.

A car bomb has gone off killing at least 15 people and wounding about 30 others. Iraq’s Prime Minister announced the security crackdown in Basra three days agofollowing a surge in violence. The city, which for a long time seemed immune to the unrest plaguing the rest of the country, has recently descended into chaos amid fighting between rival Shi’ite militias.

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