25 killed in car bombings south of Baghdad

The attack occurred in the morning when two booby-trapped cars were detonated near the house of Salim Hussien Alwan, governor of al-Qadsiyah province, killing at least 25 people, mostly security guards, and wounded more than 20, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

Alwan's house was located in the al-Soub al-Sagheer neighborhood in downtown Diwaniyah, some 180 km south of Baghdad.

The death toll could rise as ambulances and police vehicles were evacuating the victims to the city hospitals and medical centers, the source said.

Violence and sporadic high-profile attacks are still common in Iraq, underlining the challenges that the Iraqi security forces are facing as they struggle to restore stability in Iraqi cities several months before the withdrawal of all US troops by the end of 2011. Kazinform cites China Daily. See www.chinadaily.com.cn