A series of bomb blasts in the southern Iraqi city of Basra killed at least 19 people and wounded about 70 other, police and medical sources say. The series of blasts occurred in a market in the centre of the port city. Two of the blasts involving a roadside bomb and a motorcycle happened simultaneously, police said. The third explosion then killed police and army officers who had gathered at the scene, eye witnesses say. The last bomb caused most of the injuries, officials said. Noufal Hassan, who owns a shop near the site of the explosions, said the market was a scene of carnage.