A police officer says the suicide bomber blew himself up today inside a restaurant in Dhi Qar province that is frequented by Shiite paramilitary militia fighters.
He added that at least 27 others were wounded in the attack that targeted a famous restaurant on the main highway that links Baghdad with the southern provinces.
Dhi Qar is located about 200 miles (320 kilometers) southeast.
A medical official confirmed the causality figures. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to release information.