Bodies of 40 murdered men found in Baghdad

The bodies of 40 men have been found in Baghdad over the past 24 hours, police said today.

All the bodies, apparent victims of sectarian death squads, showed signs of torture, had been shot, and had their hands and feet bound, police said.

They were dumped in several neighbourhoods in both eastern and western Baghdad.

The top US military spokesman in Iraq yesterday said murders and executions are currently the primary cause of civilian deaths in Baghdad.

Many of the death squads are thought to be offshoots of mainly Shia militias.

AP