Gunmen have shot 20 civilians at a makeshift checkpoint in an execution-style killing in Iraq.
The incident took place in the Diyala province, 100km northeast of Baghdad. The victims included children, students and elderly people.
The latest bloodshed comes a day after 28 people were killed after a car bomb exploded at a market in Basra, challenging a state of emergency imposed by new Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki aimed at cracking down on gangs, militias and feuding Shia factions threatening oil exports.
In another development, a session of Iraq's parliament in which new defence and interior ministers were expected to be chosen has been postponed until further notice.
It is understood the move was sparked by a failure to reach agreement on one of the nominees.
Meanwhile, 13 people have been killed at a mosque in Basra.
A Sunni religious group has claimed that police opened fire on the unarmed worshippers at the al-Arab mosque.
However, according to a police source, they received a tip that 'terrorists' had taken refuge inside the mosque and police were fired on when they surrounded it last night.
They said nine gunmen were killed and six arrested.
