Iraqi officials said at least 32 people were killed and dozens wounded on Sunday when militants detonated two parked explosives-laden cars in the city of Samawah, 230 kilometers (145 miles) south of the capital, Baghdad.

They said one car bomb exploded near government offices and the other at an open-air bus station, with both sites just 400 meters (437 yards) apart.

The Shiite-dominated city, which is the capital of Muthanna Governate, has rarely seen such attacks.

The "Islamic State" jihadist group, whose strongholds are mostly in Sunni areas in the north and the west, has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

They come a day after at least 23 Shiite faithful were killed by another car bomb just outside Baghdad on Saturday.

A monthly report issued by the United Nations on Sunday said at least 741 Iraqis were killed in April, a sharp drop over the month before. The report said 410 of those killed were civilians, while the rest were members of the security forces.

The attacks on Sunday came just hours after Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi ordered the arrest and prosecution of protesters who broke into the capital's heavily fortified "Green Zone" on Saturday to protest against delays in reform plans. The protesters, who were largely followers of influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, tore down blast walls, entered and damaged the parliament building and attacked security forces and lawmakers.

tj/rc (AP, AFP)