A bomb blast in the central marketplace in Hillah killed at least 15 people and wounded 56, Iraqi police said.
Hillah, the predominantly Shiite Muslim city near ancient Babylon, is 65 miles south of Baghdad.
The market place was crowded with pre-dinner shoppers buying groceries and vegetables when the bomb exploded. Ambulances were ferrying the injured to hospitals.
Angry survivors shouted: “Down, down with the police” and threw stones to express their anger over the lack of security.