The two near-simultaneous bomb attacks wounded at least 64 people, reports say. The explosions occurred at 08:00 (05:00 GMT) on August 15 in a crowded area in the centre of the city.

The blasts were caused by a roadside bomb and a car bomb.

The roadside bomb exploded in a public square in the city, 150km (95 miles) south-east of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. Then a car bomb detonated when security forces arrived on the scene.

There has been a recent flurry of violence across Iraq, although it is much reduced since a peak in 2006-2007.

A total of 259 Iraqis were killed in attacks in July, reports say.