BAGHDAD (AFP) — Iraq's security forces found Tuesday the bodies of 15 Iraqis in a village that was until three-weeks ago controlled by Al-Qaeda, a defence ministry spokesman told AFP.
The bodies were discovered in the village of Bauzel, 25 kilometres (15 miles) east of Baquba in Diyala province, General Mohammed al-Askari said, adding that they had been killed by Al-Qaeda gangs.
"This village, which was in the hands of terrorist groups, had been cleared during operation 'Good Omen' and during our search we found the bodies in a mass grave," Askari said.
On July 29, 50,000 Iraqi soldiers and police, with support from US forces, launched a major crackdown on Al-Qaeda and other insurgents in Diyala province.
Askari said Iraqi security forces had arrested 757 wanted people since the start of the operation and a further 1,600 people had surrendered and taken advantage of the amnesty on offer.
Soldiers also found more than a thousand bombs and booby traps in 33 houses in the village.
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