Baghdad, Oct 24, SPA -- Stepped-up attacks by insurgents overthe last two days have killed at least 44 Iraqis, including12 laborers _ five of them brothers _ who were gunned downat a construction site, police said Monday. In addition, the bodies of eight Iraqis who apparentlywere kidnapped and killed in captivity, were found in thecapital on Monday, police said. Meanwhile, the toll among American service members in theIraq war also was approaching 2,000 dead. At least 1,996members of the U.S. military have died since the beginningof the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an AssociatedPress count.--SPA1251 Local Time 0951 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/298288