Iraqi army finds 10 bodies in mass grave

The Iraqi army has uncovered 10 bodies in a shallow mass grave north of the capital believed to date back about two years to a period when Al-Qaeda terrorised the area, the military said.

The Iraqi army has uncovered 10 bodies in a shallow mass grave north of the capital believed to date back about two years to a period when Al-Qaeda terrorised the area, the military said on Sunday.

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Army spokesman Major General Mohammed al-Askari said the skeletons were found on Saturday in Al-Taji, 40 kilometres (25 miles) from Baghdad.

"The graves and the bones date back to about two years ago and are believed to be the work of Al-Qaeda," he told AFP.

Iraq has seen dramatic improvements in security over the past year as US and Iraqi forces have allied with local Sunni militias to drive out fighters loyal to Osama bin Laden's global network.

But insurgents continue to carry out attacks in Baghdad as well as in Diyala province and the city of Mosul, both to the north.