Over 40 bodies found near Baghdad-Iraqi army

BAGHDAD, Feb 23 (Reuters) Iraqi police and army officials said today at least 40 bodies were found in one spot just south of Baghdad.

It was not clear if the victims were among 53 people already reported by police to have died in Baghdad in sectarian violence since the bombing of a major Shi'ite shrine.

The bodies were found in the village of Nahrawan, where local Sunni residents had in the past accused Shi'ite militiamen of attacking them. The identities of the dead were not clear.

REUTERS SHR DS1623