UN chief slams terrorist bomb attack in Baghdad

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday condemned "in the strongest terms" a bomb attack on a market in Baghdad that killed over 100 people, media reported.

Ban voiced his hope that the perpetrators "are swiftly brought to justice", said a statement issued here by Ban's spokesman, Xinhua news agency reported.

"The attack, which comes at a time when the Iraqi people are celebrating the end of the holy month of Ramadan, reportedly left over 100 civilians killed and many more injured, including children."

"The secretary-general's thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families," the statement said. "He hopes that the perpetrators of this heinous crime are swiftly brought to justice," the statement said.

"He stands in solidarity with the people and the government of Iraq."

A car bomb claimed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group exploded in a busy market in the Iraqi town, killing at least 115 adults and children celebrating the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, reports said.

About 170 people were wounded by the blast in Khan Bani Saad, a predominantly Shia town in Diyala province, north of Baghdad, the reports said.

ISIL claimed responsibility for the attack on Twitter and said the car was carrying around three tonnes of explosives, said the reports.