One person killed in explosion in Iraqi city of Basra

BASRA, Iraq, Dec 23 (AFP) - An unidentified man was killed Thursday in an explosion in the southern Iraqi city of Basra, said an AFP correspondent.
The blast went off at about 8:00 pm (1700 GMT) at the Casino Lebanon intersection in the city centre.
A body was seen lying in the street as Iraqi and British forces sealed off the area.
Police at the scene said the blast may have been caused by an improvised explosive device going off prematurely as it was being set up by the man.

12/23/2004 18:35 GMT - AFP