53 people were killed and at least 130 others were injured in a spate of attacks across Iraq Thursday.

73 people were killed and at least 130 others were injured in a spate of attacks across Iraq Thursday.

The worst attack saw more than 30 people killed and 72 wounded by a suicide attack on the outskirts of the southern city of Nasiriyah as Muslim visitors were walking to the shrine city of Karbala for 40th day of Ashura commemorations.

Directly after the attack, the official website of Dhi Qar province reported that "there was one attack carried out by a suicide bomber wearing an explosives belt targeting a rest stop... killing 30 people, including an army lieutenant, and 72 others were wounded.”

A total of five bomb attacks also struck two neighborhoods in northern Baghdad, killing at least 23 people and wounded dozens more.

“In Kadhimiyah, car bombs exploded at around 9:00 am (0600 GMT) at adjoining intersections,” AFP quoted officials from the interior and defense ministries as saying.

The blasts killed 14 people and wounded 37 others, the defence official said, while the interior ministry source put the toll at 15 dead and 31 wounded.

Several nearby vehicles and shops, as well as the facade of a newly-built hotel, were badly damaged, AFP correspondent said.

In Sadr City, a booby-trapped motorcycle exploded at around 7:00 am near a group of day laborers waiting to pick up work, at least killing seven and wounding 20 others, the interior ministry official said.

A short time later, twin roadside bombs detonated near the district's main hospital as victims were being ferried in, killing two more people and wounding 15, the official said.