(MENAFN- Arab News) BAGHDAD: A pair of bombings in the Iraqi capital Saturday killed over two dozen people hours before the city's longtime curfew was set to come to an end.

The deadliest attack happened inside a restaurant that killed 22 people and wounding at least 39 officials said.

Another attack said to have been either a suicide or roadside bombing hit a commercial area in central Baghdad killing at least five people and wounding at least 13.

There has been no claim for either attack thus far. Hospital officials confirmed the casualties. All officials spoke anonymously as they are not authorized to brief the media.

Saturday's attacks illustrate the persistent danger of violence in Baghdad even as the nightly curfew was set to end at midnight (2100 GMT) in the city.

Lifting the curfew is a major change to a longstanding policy aimed at curbing violence in the capital by limiting movement at night which has failed to stop frequent bombings.

Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi ordered the move this week a decision his office said was taken so there would 'be normal life as much as possible despite the existence of a state of war.'

Baghdad has remained relatively calm amid a rampage in northern and western Iraq by the IS group. The violence has been considerably subdued from the darkest days of sectarian bloodletting in 2006 and 2007.

Iraqi officials have repeatedly assured that the capital is secure.