Special report: Tension escalates in Iraq

    BAGHDAD, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi police said Wednesday they found at least 34 decomposed bodies from a mass grave in a desert area in Anbar province.

    "A police force and local tribesmen unearthed remains of at least 34 bodies buried in a mass grave in the Akkashaat area near the town of al-Qaim, near the border with Syria" a police source from Anbar province told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

    The police force headed to the area according to information taken from a detainee, believed to be a member of al-Qaida network, the source said.

    The detainee told his interrogators that the victims were executed during 2006 and buried in a mass grave, when area was under control of al-Qaida militants, the source added.

    He said the security forces believe the victims were previously kidnapped and killed by the Qaida members.

    Iraqis in Anbar and other cities have joined Iraqi security forces and U.S. troops to fight Qaida network after the latter exercised indiscriminate killings against both Shiite and Sunni communities.