ERBIL - A mass grave has been discovered in the town of Hawija in southwest of Kirkuk province, a security source said on Sunday.

A source from the federal police said in a statement that the grave, which includes nearly 200 bodies, was found in the village of Zilajiha, as cited by Kurdistan 24.

He pointed out that the victims were from the same area and that they had been killed by the extremist group of the Islamic State (IS), according to the report.

The source also said that they have called on the Iraqi ministry of health to take legal procedures towards the issue and dig up the mass grave, but that it has so far remained silent.