A Sunni al-Qaida-linked group claims it has killed 18 Iraqi policemen it took hostage to avenge last month's alleged rape of an Iraqi woman.
The group, the Islamic State of Iraq, had threatened to kill the hostages in 24 hours if the government did not release all Sunni female prisoners and turn over the police officers who were allegedly involved in the rape.
Iraqi officials say the bodies of 14 policemen were found today (Friday) in Diyala province. Iraqi officials had earlier reported 14 officers missing in Diyala.
Iraq's police force is largely Shi'ite.
In other news today, Iraqi police say a car bomb ripped through a market in Baghdad's Shi'ite neighborhood Sadr City, killing 10 people and wounding 17 others.
Also, the U.S. military says a roadside bomb killed two soldiers and an Iraqi interpreter today northwest of Baghdad.
Earlier, the military said coalition forces killed eight militants Thursday in a raid near Baghdad targeting al-Qaida in Iraq. A military statement said the raid took place in the Salman Pak region.
The group, the Islamic State of Iraq, had threatened to kill the hostages in 24 hours if the government did not release all Sunni female prisoners and turn over the police officers who were allegedly involved in the rape.
Iraqi officials say the bodies of 14 policemen were found today (Friday) in Diyala province. Iraqi officials had earlier reported 14 officers missing in Diyala.
Iraq's police force is largely Shi'ite.
In other news today, Iraqi police say a car bomb ripped through a market in Baghdad's Shi'ite neighborhood Sadr City, killing 10 people and wounding 17 others.
Also, the U.S. military says a roadside bomb killed two soldiers and an Iraqi interpreter today northwest of Baghdad.
Earlier, the military said coalition forces killed eight militants Thursday in a raid near Baghdad targeting al-Qaida in Iraq. A military statement said the raid took place in the Salman Pak region.