At least 50 killed in bomb attacks in southern Iraqi city

Suicide bombers attacked a restaurant and a police checkpoint on a highway near the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriyah on Thursday, killing at least 50 and wounding more than 80, police and medical sources said.

One attacker detonated his explosive vest inside the restaurant, south-west of Nasiriyah, while three to four other attackers opened fire at the people inside, police sources said.

Sources at city hospitals said four Iranian citizens were among those killed.

Police confirmed the death toll could rise as several of the wounded were in a critical condition.

Bomb attacks in southern Iraq, where the bulk of the country's oil is produced, are relatively rare.

No group immediately claimed responsibility, but the attack occurred with Iraqi forces battling to defeat IS militants in areas under their control.