TEHRAN, Jan. 24 (Xinhuanet) -- Two huge bomb explosions rocked the southwestern Iranian city of Ahvaz on Tuesday morning, killing at least six people and wounding dozens, state television reported.

   The first bomb exploded in front of a privately-owned bank, killing six and injuring 15, and the second blew off before a government building, injuring nine, said the report.

   The explosions also caused some damage and fire engines and ambulances were rushed to the scenes, the official IRNA news agency said, revealing no further details.

   Tuesday's explosions have been the third bombing case since last June in Ahvaz, capital city of the southwestern province of Khuzestan which borders Iraq.

   On June 12, 2005 three bombs exploded concurrently near public facilities in the city, leaving eight dead and scores of others injured.

   On Oct. 15, 2005 two consecutive bomb blast struck an IT commercial center in Ahvaz, killing six and wounding more than 50.

   Khuzestan accounts for almost 90 percent of Iran's nearly 132 billion barrels of proven oil reserve and most of the country's two million ethnic Arabs live in the province.

   Conflicts between the authorities and local residents have become a serious concern of the Iranian government, which blames the tension on the continuous provocation of some foreign countries. Enditem