At least 68 Iraqis have died and about 200 have been wounded after a series of three near simultaneous bombings outside three police stations this morning in the southern Iraqi city of Basra.

Among the dead include 20 Iraqi school children who were traveling near the blasts in school buses.

Until now the Shiite city of Basra has been one of the most peaceful and quiet cities in Iraq. The bombings marked the worst attacks in Basra since the US occupation began.

There were reports that when the British troops arrived at the scene of the bombings they were attacked with stones.

The three police stations were hit within minutes of each other at around 7:15 in the morning local time.