Iraqi officials say a car bomb exploded in the country's south, killing at least 28 people and wounding at least 35 others.

Police say Wednesday's blast targeted a busy market district in the town of Bathaa, near the southern city of Nasiriya.  No one has claimed responsibility for the assault.

The mainly Shi'ite area is about 300 kilometers southeast of Baghdad and was the site of fierce internal fighting between Shi'ite militia factions before a cease-fire took hold.

Bombings are regular occurrences in Iraq, but overall violence has sharply declined in recent months.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.