Slovenian mass grave could contain about 700 bodies, officials say

The bodies of about 700 people have been found in a mass grave in Slovenia, 65 years after they were herded into the woods and slain by anti-fascist groups seeking revenge on Nazi collaborators, an official said yesterday.

Marko Strovs, who heads the government's commission for exhuming mass graves, said researchers found the remains after examining a pit in a forest near Prevalje in the north-east of the country last week.

"Based on what we've heard from local people and what we've seen so far, there could be about 700 bodies buried inside."

Thousands of Nazi collaborators were executed by communist-backed anti-fascist groups after the Second World War - in many cases, victims also included innocent civilians. Communist authorities in the former Yugoslavia played down or denied such slayings, though other mass graves have since been found.

Mr Strovs said the bodies include both men and women. Initial findings suggest their hands were tied behind their backs.