Mass grave of 100 Kurdish bodies uncovered in southern Iraq

May 13, 2009, 12:25 GMT

Baghdad- A mass grave of around 100 Kurdish bodies has been discovered in the southern city of Diwaneya, the Iraqi news agency Buratha reported on Wednesday.

The discovery came following a tip received by Iraqi intelligence indicating the site of the grave, according to Fadel al-Sagheer, head of the human rights office in the city.

The graves included the bodies of women and children in their traditional Kurdish dresses. Initial investigations, al-Sagheer said, indicates they were probably victims of the 1991 Kurdish uprising against the regime of then Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

In 1991, following the war to drive Iraq out of Kuwait, Kurds and Shia revolted against President Saddam. Both groups were hoping US troops would support them.

Those hopes were disappointed and the regime of Saddam was able to crush the revolt.

Human rights organisations estimate that tens of thousands of people have died during the crackdown which lasted for some months.

Several mass graves have been discovered since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003.