Gunmen wearing military uniforms have stormed a Sunni Muslim village near Baghdad and killed at least 24 people.

The attack occurred on Friday in a Sunni enclave called Albusaifi in southern Baghdad province, a former stronghold of al-Qaeda militants. A police source said the gunmen handcuffed the victims and shot them in the head.

At least seven people were left alive, their hands tied behind their backs, Baghdad security spokesman Major General Qassim al-Moussawi said.

The victims were former insurgents who turned against al-Qaeda and members of the scurity services, Iraqi authorities said.

The attackers may have been pretending to be US soldiers because they wore US-style uniforms, sunglasses, and spoke some English, according to an Iraqi military source at the scene.

Iraqi and US troops sealed off the area. Mr Moussawi said 25 people were arrested and security forces were searching for more.