Special report: Tension escalates in Iraq

Related story: Dozens of bodies found across Baghdad

    BAGHDAD, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi police patrols found at least 20 bodies during the past 24 hours on Sunday, a well-informed police source said.

    "We have at least 20 bodies found in different parts of Baghdad," the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

    The bodies were bound and blindfolded, showing signs of torture with bullet holes in their head and chest, the source added.

    The police found 47 bodies on Saturday, 51 on Friday and 32 on Thursday across Baghdad, lifting the number of bodies found in a week to some 150.

    The almost daily gruesome body findings, assassinations and explosions in Baghdad and other Iraqi cities were seen as a major setback for the Iraqi government's efforts to stem violence and achieve national reconciliation. Enditem