The Iraqi government said on Sunday that the death toll of Saturday's suicide bomb attack in Musayyib town, south of Baghdad, has risen to more than 90. (Photo: Xinhua/AFP)

BAGHDAD, July 17 (Xinhuanet) -- The Iraqi government said on Sunday that the death toll of Saturday's suicide bomb attack in Musayyib town, south of Baghdad, has risen to more than 90.

    "The enemies of freedom and humanity in Iraq have committed a new ugly crime that shows their bankruptcy as they targeted our innocent civilians in the Mussayib district, killing more than 90 people," the government said in a statement.

    "The Iraqi government condemns this brutal attack and promises the Iraqi people it will continue to tighten the grip on the terrorist organization by improving our armed forces and regaining control of security," it added.

    Earlier, police and medical officials put the number of casualties at 71 killed along with 156 wounded.  

    A suicide bomber blew himself up Saturday evening near a fuel tanker in the middle of a square in the center of Musayyib, some 60km south of Baghdad, causing a firestorm that set several buildings and shops on fire along with dozens of cars.

    It is the deadliest suicide bomb attack in Iraq since the new Shiite-dominated government was formed in April.

    Musayyib is located within the area dubbed the "triangle of death", a hotbed of insurgency against the US forces and the US-backed new government.  Enditem