Authorities in Iraq have announced the discovery of a mass grave containing the bodies of civilians believed to have been killed by the Islamic State. <br />''<br />''<br />''The police said that the bodies were found in a sparsely populated region near the town of Hawija in Kirkuk province after heavy rain in the area exposed the corpses. <br />''<br />''<br />''It is not yet clear how many bodies lay further underground. <br />''<br />''<br />''This announcement comes a month after the UN documented the existence of 202 mass graves across northern Iraq. <br />''<br />''<br />''Last year in November, graves containing the remains of some 400 bodies were found at an airbase on the outskirts of Kirkuk.<br />''<br />