The death toll from the deadly bombing at a market place in a town in Dhi Qar province on Wednesday, rose to 28 and 45 others were injured, a police source said.

"Our latest reports said that the blast was caused by a suicide car bomber who killed up to 28 civilians and injured some 45 others in the town of Batha," the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The blast took place at about 9:00 a.m. (0600 GMT) when a suicide bomber blew up his explosive-laden car at the busy vegetable marketplace of the town of Batha, some 40 km west of Nasriyah, the capital city of Dhi Qar province, the source said.

Many of the victims were women and children, the source added.

Sporadic attacks continue in Iraqi cities despite the US and Iraqi officials announced a relative lull in violence during the past months.  

(Xinhua News Agency June 10, 2009)