The bodies of some 29 people were found at this apartment block in east Baghdad.

All but nine of the victims were women.

They were shot by a group of gunmen on Saturday.

Police say the killers left messages in apartments were groups of dead women were found.

The words 'This is the punishment for those practising prostitution' were scrawled in black.

It wasn't immediately clear who was behind the killings in Zayouna district.

Shi'ite militia groups have in the past been accused of killing women branded as prostitutes in the same neighbourhood.