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Suicide Bomber Targets Iraqi Shi'ite Militia in Basra
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(http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=F4F94A:3919ACA

Basra has been hit by several recent bombings ahead of next Sunday's
vote on new national constitution





Iraqis scramble to put out a fire after a building caught alight
following a suicide car bomb attack in BasraA suicide car bomb
exploded in southern Iraq Sunday outside an apartment building used by
a Shi'ite militia, killing at least one person and wounding several
others.

The attack in Basra, Iraq's second city, apparently was aimed at the
Iranian-backed Badr Brigade militia. News reports say Basra's former
governor Hassan al-Rashid, a senior militia leader, escaped unharmed.

Basra has been hit by several recent bombings ahead of next Saturday's
(October 15) vote on a new national constitution.

Authorities in Baghdad say security will heightened nationwide for the
referendum, with curfews and a ban on car travel in many areas. Iraq's
borders will be closed to deter infiltration by insurgents, and
coalition forces will protect polling places.

Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.


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