Eleven bodies found in Tigris near Baghdad

Suwayra (Iraq), May 9: The bodies of 11 Iraqis, including the headless corpse of a 10-year-old boy, were found dumped in the Tigris river south of Baghdad today, police sources said.

The bodies, nine of whom were beheaded, were discovered near the Sunni town of Suwayra, 40km southeast of Baghdad.

Seven of them were wearing Iraqi security forces uniforms.

Police said the victims had been killed four or five days ago. All had their hands tied.

Police could not confirm the motive for the killing but sectarian violence has increased sharply since the February. 22 bombing of a Shi'ite shrine sparked a wave of reprisals.

The dumping of bodies, many of them bearing signs of torture, is a common occurrence in Iraq.

REUTERS

Related Stories