Fifty-seven bodies found in Baghdad in 24 hours: source

The Iraqi police found 57 unidentified bodies in the 24 hours ending Tuesday morning in the capital, most of them believed to be the latest victims of sectarian violence.

"The number of the unidentified bodies found by police patrols rose to 57 until this morning in different Baghdad neighborhoods," an Interior Ministry source told Xinhua.

Most of the bodies were blindfolded and showed signs of torture with bullet holes in different parts of their bodies, the source said on condition of anonymity.

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.

UN and Iraqi officials estimate that more than 100 Iraqis are killed everyday in insurgent attacks and fighting between Sunni and Shiite factions.

Source: Xinhua