More than 200 others were reportedly injured. Amnesty International also condemns the killing in broad day light of three election employees in Haifa Street in central Baghdad.

'There can never be any justification for the deliberate targeting of civilians and such attacks constitute crimes against humanity. Those responsible must be brought to justice,' said Amnesty International.

On 19 December suicide bombers carried out deadly coordinated attacks near a bus station in Karbala and during a funeral procession near the Imam 'Ali Mosque in Najaf. Meanwhile in central Baghdad armed men reportedly dragged three employees of the electoral commission out of a car, made them to kneel and shot them dead.

Elections to a National Assembly are scheduled to take place on 30 January 2005.