Iraq hangs 13 for ISIS for terrorism as MP urges rapid executions

Iraq hanged 13 prisoners convicted on terror charges, the Justice Ministry announced Friday, following a recommendation by the prime minister to speed up executions of those on death row for terror-related offenses.

Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi is facing fresh questions over gaps in security after bodies of eight policemen and members of a pro-government Shiite militia were found on the side of a highway north of Baghdad this week. The eight were believed to have been abducted by Islamic State militants earlier this month.

The 13 prisoners were executed late Thursday, hours after al-Abadi recommended to President Fuad Masum that he sign execution orders for all terror suspects awaiting capital punishment.

The Justice Ministry, which said the men had exhausted all possibilities for appeal, released photographs, including one showing four men hanging at the gallows.

Earlier Friday, al-Abadi's office said 12 men had been executed. There was no immediate explanation for the discrepancy.

A representative of Iraq's highest Shiite authority accused politicians Friday of ignoring the lingering threat posed by IS despite the fact that the authorities declared victory over the militants last year.