Twenty dead bodies dumped in Baghdad

Twenty bodies of people who had been shot or beheaded were discovered in southwest Baghdad today, a police source said.

The source said witnesses told police they saw a truck dump the bodies near a school in the Om al-Ma'alif area in southwest Baghdad.

Many bodies have been discovered in similar circumstances over the past few months in killings that have fueled sectarian tensions.

Police said many of the victims had long beards like the ones grown by Muslim militants.

The bodies were placed in black plastic bags, police said.