Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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March 8, 2008

US, Iraqi Officials: 100 Decomposed Bodies Found North of Baghdad
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1B7B118:A6F02AD83191E160183F3C36C52FEC5DE55ED32ED25AB8F6& In other news, US,
Iraqi officials expected to hold talks in Baghdad on agreements to
govern future relations between their countries Iraqi security forces
have found about 100 decomposed bodies in a mass grave north of
Baghdad - one of the largest such finds in the country in months.

U.S. and Iraqi military officials gave no definitive word on who was
responsible for the grave near Khalis in Diyala province, or who the
victims were or when they had been killed.

In other news, U.S. and Iraqi officials are expected to hold talks in
Baghdad on agreements to govern future relations between the two
countries.

A U.S. Defense Department spokesman, Geoff Morrell, says Washington
expects a lengthy period of talks with Iraq. The talks are aimed at
reaching agreement on a "Strategic Framework" for U.S. Iraqi relations
and providing a legal basis for the continued presence of U.S. forces
on Iraqi territory.

A U.N. Security Council resolution authorizing the U.S.-led coalition
presence in Iraq expires in December.

In other developments, U.S. military officials say coalition forces
have killed one terrorist and arrested eight people in operations
today in central and northern Iraq. At least two of those detained are
suspected of having ties to al-Qaida in Iraq.

The U.S. military also says an explosion killed one soldier and
wounded another Friday during an operation in Diyala.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.


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