Nine severed heads found in Iraq

More severed heads found in Iraq

Police in Iraq have said on Tuesday that they found nine severed heads, wrapped in plastic bags and left in a fruit box by the side of a road.

The heads were found near Baquba, north of Baghdad, where police made a similar discovery three days ago.

There is no word on the identity of the latest victims.

Some of the heads were blindfolded and already decomposing, suggesting that the killings had taken place a few days back, police said.

Baquba lies in a mixed Sunni Arab and Shia province where attacks against civilians have been common.

Prisoner releases
Separately, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said on Tuesday that he will release 2,500 prisoners, starting on Wednesday as a gesture, of "national reconciliation".

He said those to be released would not include supporters of the ousted president, Saddam Hussein, or anyone who had Iraqi blood on their hands.

He said the prisoners would be released from US-run detention centres and Iraqi prisons.
"We hope they will abide by not violently objecting to the political process. This is a strong move which will encourage others," Mr Maliki said.

Correspondents say the move is intended as an appeal to Sunni Arab political leaders, who have alleged that their community has been targeted by the Shia-led government.

Mr Maliki has previously said his top priorities are to expand the participation of all Iraqis in the political process, and to improve the security situation.

But he has been unable to fill the two key security posts in his cabinet - the ministers of defence and interior - because of disagreements among political groups.

In April, the UN's human rights official in Iraq, Gianni Magazzeni, said the Iraqi authorities are illegally holding thousands of people, and that more than 14,000 people are also being held by US-led coalition forces in Iraq.