Special report: Tension accelerates in Iraq

    BAGHDAD, June 18 (Xinhua) -- Seven policemen were wounded when gunmen opened fire at the Iraqi patrols in southern Baghdad on Sunday, an Interior Ministry source said.

    "Unknown gunmen opened fire in the afternoon at police patrols near the Belat al-Shuhadaa school in the Doura district, wounding seven of them," the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

    Earlier in the day, unknown gunmen in six sports utility vehicles stormed the al-Wisam bakeshop in northern Baghdad's Kazmiyah neighborhood and kidnapped 10 employees, said a source also from Interior Ministry.

    In a separate incident, three people were wounded when three mortar rounds landed at the Shiite Imam Sadiq University in eastern Baghdad.

    Meanwhile, police said that they collected nine bodies indifferent parts in Baghdad Sunday morning. All of them were bound and riddled with bullets, showing signs of torture.

    The incidents came one day after dozens of people were killed in a series of explosions in Baghdad, which caused a major setback for the government's efforts to stem violence in the capital.

    Iraqi security forces, backed by U.S. troops, have launched an operation in Baghdad since Wednesday. Enditem