The violence came as other attacks were reported in the country, including in Diyala province where 10 people died.

Two weeks ago, Iraqi leaders said there would be talks with the US over whether to keep some US forces in Iraq in 2012.

All US forces are due to leave the country by the end of the year, but Iraqi and US officials have expressed concern about the ability of Iraqi forces to protect the country.

The blasts appeared to be co-ordinated to go off in the morning and included a combination of parked car bombs, roadside bombs and suicide bombers.

However, there was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks. The latest violence was quickly condemned by the speaker of parliament, Osama al-Nujaifi.

In Kut, which lies 150m (95 miles) south-east of Baghdad, the two bomb attacks - one a roadside bomb, the other a car bomb - injured at least 64 people, officials say.

The roadside bomb exploded in the centre of the city, then a car bomb detonated when security forces arrived on the scene, officials said.