An Iraqi governor, parliamentarian and two tribal chiefs on Jan.26 accused militias of executing more than 70 unarmed civilians who had fled fighting with Islamic State militants, Al Arabiya reported.
Interior ministry spokesman Brigadier General Saad Maan denied the claims, saying IS was trying to undermine the reputation of Iraqi security forces.
A local official said it was too soon to draw conclusions and suggested IS could have been behind the deaths in the eastern village of Barwanah.
Security forces and pro-government militias took control of about two dozen villages from Islamic State fighters in Diyala province near the border with Iran earlier on Jan.26 after a three-day assault.