The first attack came from a suicide bomber who walked into a crowded cafe in the centre of the city and killed at least 12 civilians. Meanwhile, at least three policemen died soon after when a car bomb exploded as they passed a nearby restaurant.

News has also emerged of a mass killing north of Baghdad on January 18. Reports said between 12 and 30 civilians were shot dead by gunmen who stopped them at checkpoints near Dujail - the town at the centre of Saddam Hussein's trial where an alleged massacre took place in 1982.

Iraqi security forces are also still searching for 34 police recruits abducted north of Baghdad on January 17 amid reports that at least some of them were later shot dead in execution-style killings.

In another development, the Italian government has announced that it will pull its troops out of Iraq by the end of this year.

BBC