The death toll rose to at least 16 people killed and up to 70 others injured on Tuesday when a suicide car bomb struck a busy market in the town of Kufa near the holy city of Najaf, 160 km south of Baghdad, local police said.

"Our latest report said that at least 16 people were killed and some 70 others injured in the suicide car bombing in the commercial Jesr Street in Kufa, some 10 km northeast of Najaf," the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

Earlier, the source put the toll at ten people killed and 25 others wounded in a car bomb blast at a busy market.

A suicide bomber driving an explosive-laden vehicle at about 10: 15 a.m. (0615 GMT) at the crowded commercial street where dozens of shops and open market located, the source said.

Women and children were among the killed and wounded victims, he said, adding the blast damaged several nearby shops and civilian cars.

In a separate incident, a suicide bomber wearing an explosive- belt blew himself up near the police station of Jalwla'a town, some 150 km north east of Baghdad, killing two policemen, a police source from Diyala province told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The blast also wounded 22 others, said the source.

According to the source, the police station is adjacent to the town's government bank, where dozens of retired government employees were queuing for their pensions while the incident happened.

Source: Xinhua