Baghdad  - A suicide bomber Thursday killed at least 15 people and wounded 13 in the northern Iraqi province of Diyala, according to a security source.

The source told the Voices of Iraq news agency that the bomber blew himself up inside a crowded restaurant in Khanaqin town.

"There are seven people severely wounded and more than 10 stores have been severely damaged, as have cars parked near the blast," the source added.

Khanaqin, 150 kilometres northeast of Diyala's capital Baquba, is an area near the border with the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region.

For years, Baquba, some 60 kilometres north of Baghdad, was wracked by fighting between Shiite militias, al-Qaeda in Iraq, and Coalition Forces. Kurds and Arabs compete for power in the north of Diyala province. (dpa)