A car bomb near a cafe in central Iraq has killed at least 11 people, officials say.

The attack took place in the north-eastern town of Buhriz, 60km (40 miles) from the capital, Baghdad.

More than 20 other people were injured in the attack which took place close to a cafe in a Sunni Muslim area.

Militants frequently target civilians in cafes, public space and other crowded areas, such as markets and mosques.

Violence in Iraq this year has reached a level not seen since 2008.

The UN has said the overall death toll dropped to 659 in November, including 565 civilians and 94 members of the Iraqi security forces, compared with 979 in October.

But more than 7,150 civilians and 950 security forces personnel have now been killed since January, the highest annual toll since 2008.

BBC