Eight people are killed in the southern Iraqi city of Basra, after an explosion destroyed a house early Monday morning. Basra has seen numerous U.S. air strikes over the past two weeks after Iraqi security forces launched a crackdown on Shi'ite militias. The flaring of new violence comes as General David Petraeus, the top American commander in Iraq, and US Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker go before Congress this week to deliver their latest status report. Basra moved back in the spotlight last month after Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki launched a move into Basra, something US President George W. Bush called a defining moment. SOUNDBITE: President George W. Bush saying, (English) "Any government that presumes to represent the majority of people must confront criminal elements or people who think they can live outside the law and that's what taking place in Basra and in other parts of Iraq. " When Petraeus faces Congress, the questions will likely focus on the number of...