Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=10/24/04

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=IRAQ / DEAD SOLDIERS (L-O)

NUMBER=2-319867

BYLINE=GREG LAMOTTE

DATELINE=BAGHDAD

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

HEAD: Iraqi Army Recruits Massacred

INTRO: The bodies of as many as 49 soldiers with the new Iraqi army were discovered northeast of Baghdad late Saturday. The soldiers were ambushed by insurgents who executed them as they lay on the ground. VOA's Greg LaMotte is in Baghdad with the details.

TEXT: Senior officials with Iraq's Interior Ministry say the Iraqi soldiers were returning home on leave when they were intercepted by insurgents late Saturday.

Witnesses at the scene were quoted as saying the insurgents first attacked the Iraqi military convoy of minibuses with rocket propelled grenades.

The soldiers were then forced to lie on the ground and were then

shot dead execution style. Interior Ministry officials say the

bodies were discovered lined up in four rows with about 12 bodies in each row. The same officials say that because the soldiers were heading home on leave they were not armed.

Senior interim government officials say no one has claimed

responsibility for the attack. The officials say it is unclear how many insurgents took part in the killings. An investigation is underway.

The incident occurred on a remote road near the Iranian border

about 50 kilometers south of the Iraqi town of Baquba, northeast

of Baghdad.

The soldiers were based in Kirkush about 90 kilometers northeast

of Baghdad.

The bodies were discovered late Saturday. Recovery of the dead

soldiers continued into Sunday.

In the meantime, the fate of kidnapped humanitarian aid worker

Margaret Hassan remains unknown. She was abducted last Tuesday

while traveling to her office at CARE International, where she is the aid organizations director of operations in Iraq.

Saturday, her husband begged her captors, in the name of Islam and Arabism, to release her.

All of the seven women known to have been kidnapped in Iraq were

released. However, at least 33 foreign male hostages were killed, including three Americans who were beheaded.

Ms. Hassan holds dual British and Iraqi citizenship. She has lived in Iraq for 30 years. (Signed)

NEB/GL/RH