Iraqi officials say they have found seven more decomposing bodies in the Lake Thar Thar area north of Baghdad, days after the discovery of a mass grave in the area.
Authorities say the bodies found Wednesday were handcuffed. On Saturday, Iraqi forces found 22 bodies in the area, which is about 100 kilometers north of Baghdad.
In other developments, the U.S. military released some 500 detainees
Thursday. The military says Iraqi and U.S. authorities worked together to allow the release in an effort to "foster goodwill and reconciliation."
In a separate announcement, the military said an American soldier was killed in a bomb attack Wednesday south of Baghdad.
Also, the U.S. military says coalition forces have detained six people, including a "special groups" leader thought to be responsible for the procurement and manufacturing of roadside bombs. The military says the raid was carried out Monday in the village of Sindiyah, northwest of Khalis.
