The bomber detonated an explosives-rigged vehicle during rush hour on Sunday, the first day of the working week in Iraq, at a checkpoint at the northern entrance to the city of Hilla.

Among the dead were five policemen and two state television employees. The blast also left 153 others wounded, according to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

An interior ministry statement said the bomber had used an explosives-rigged tanker truck in the attack.

Provincial police chief Major General Abbas Abouzaid was moved to police headquarters in Baghdad in the aftermath of the bombing, and was replaced by Major General Riyadh al-Khaikani, a police spokesman said.

Iraq has been hit by a year-long surge in violence that has been mainly caused by foreign backed terrorist groups.

More than 170 people have been killed so far this month and upwards of 1,850 since the beginning of the year, according to AFP figures based on security and medical sources.

NJF/NJF