Gunmen kidnap 19 civilians north of Baghdad

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Gunmen kidnapped 19 civilians north of Baghdad on Sunday after stopping cars at a fake checkpoint, Iraqi police said.

Police said those kidnapped, all men, were from a Shi'ite village near the city of Baquba. They said the gunmen were wearing civilian clothes and carrying automatic weapons.

Iraqiya state television also reported 19 people had been kidnapped in the area, although it gave few details.

Gunmen kidnapped 14 policemen near Baquba, the provincial capital of Diyala province, a month ago. They were later found dead, having all been shot in the head.

Diyala is home to Shi'ites, Sunni Arabs and Kurds and has been the scene of relentless bloodshed.