Volunteers from the Shiite al-Wala organ

Volunteers from the Shiite al-Wala organization exhume human remains at a mass grave site in Madaen, 30 kms east of Baghdad, 08 June 2003. A mass grave containing the remains of prisoners executed in the final days of the war that toppled Saddam Hussein has been found at this site used by his intelligence services, residents said. The mass grave, one of dozens uncovered all over Iraq since Saddam's ouster by invading US-led forces on April 9, was found a few days after the end of the war when farmers were alerted by the sight of dogs devouring unearthed bodies. Residents said they covered the grave with earth and informed the US occupation authorities who asked them to leave the site untouched for the purposes of the investigation. AFP PHOTO/Ramzi HAIDAR (Photo credit should read RAMZI HAIDAR/AFP via Getty Images)