The bodies of 19 civilians kidnapped by gunmen north of Baghdad were found today, Iraqi police said.
They said all had been shot in the head and chest in one of the biggest mass kidnappings in months.
Gunmen kidnapped the civilians, men from a Shia village near the city of Baquba, after stopping cars at a fake checkpoint yesterday.
The bodies were found not far from Baquba, 65 km (40 miles) north of Baghdad.
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Gunmen also kidnapped 14 policemen near Baquba, the provincial capital of Diyala province, a month ago. They were later found dead.