Four Blasts Rock Basra

Dozens killed in Basra bombings

At least 40 people were killed and scores wounded in car bombings that hit three police stations in the southern Iraqi city of Basra on Wednesday, a Reuters correspondent said.

He said he had counted 40 bodies at one Basra hospital. Among the dead were many children who had been travelling to kindergarten in a minibus that was caught in one blast.

British troops who control Basra could not reach two of the police stations.

"They are being stoned," Arnold said, adding that no casualties among British forces had been reported.

A fourth possible suicide attack has rocked through a camp outside Basra shortly after the three blasts, the British Ministry of Defence has said.

There were more Iraqi casualties in the explosion at Camp Chindit at 8.25am local time but no coalition dead.