Iraq executes 11 'terror' convicts

Executions in Iraq, usually carried out by hanging, have increased this year despite persistent international calls for a moratorium.

Iraq has executed 11 more people convicted of crimes related to "terrorist attacks, a justice ministry official says.

"Eleven terrorists, all Iraqi men, were executed on Sunday, November 24. They were executed after being convicted by the courts of carrying out terrorist attacks," the official said on Tuesday on condition of anonymity.

The executions bring to at least 162 the number of people put to death in Iraq so far this year, according to an AFP tally based on reports from the justice ministry and officials, compared to 129 for all of 2012.

Diplomats have voiced worry that the pace of executions in Iraq may increase ahead of elections due to be held on April 30, arguing that officials will be keen to show they are tough on security.

The United Nations, European Union and human rights groups have condemned the high rate of executions, with UN human rights chief Navi Pillay saying earlier this year that Iraq's criminal justice system was "not functioning adequately".