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Iraq's parliament speaker says deadly attack on Diyala marketplace was 'sectarian'

Associated Press
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Civilians gather at the scene of a suicide car bombing at a busy market in Khan Bani Saad in the Diyala province, about 20 miles (30 kilometers) northeast of Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, July 18, 2015. A suicide car bombing in Iraq's eastern Diyala province killed at least 80 people gathered at a marketplace to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan on Friday. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim) (The Associated Press)

Civilians inspect a crater caused by a suicide car bombing at a busy market in Khan Bani Saad in the Diyala province, about 20 miles (30 kilometers) northeast of Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, July 18, 2015. A suicide car bombing in Iraq's eastern Diyala province killed at least 80 people gathered at a marketplace to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan on Friday. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim) (The Associated Press)

Civilians inspect the aftermath of a suicide car bombing at a busy market in Khan Bani Saad in the Diyala province, about 20 miles (30 kilometers) northeast of Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, July 18, 2015. A suicide car bombing in Iraq's eastern Diyala province killed at least 80 people gathered at a marketplace to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan on Friday. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim) (The Associated Press)

Iraq's speaker of parliament says an attack claimed by the Islamic State group in the country's eastern Diyala province that killed 86 people, mainly Shiites, has struck an "ugly sectarian chord."

Salim al-Jabouri said Saturday that the Sunni militant group seeks to destabilize the country by carrying out criminal acts and targeting innocent civilians.

Diyala police say a small truck detonated in a crowded marketplace in the town of Khan Beni Saad Friday night as locals gathered to mark the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. Many women and children were killed in the attack. At least 86 people were injured in the attack.

The militant group claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement posted on Twitter accounts associated with the Islamic State group.