White House condemns huge bomb attack in Iraq

WASHINGTON, Nov 24 (Reuters) The White House said today that the bombing in a Shi'ite stronghold of Baghdad that marked the deadliest attack since the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 was a ''senseless act'' aimed at creating instability.

''The United States is committed to helping the Iraqi people,'' White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said.

''We condemn these senseless acts of violence that are clearly aimed at undermining the Iraqi people's hopes for a peaceful and stable Iraq,'' Stanzel said.

In an apparent retaliation for the bomb attacks on Baghdad's Sadr City that killed 202 people, gunmen attacked a Sunni Arab district and burned mosques, leaving dozens more dead.

Bush will go to Amman, Jordan, next week to meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to discuss ways to bring stability to the country as it teeters on the brink of civil war.

REUTERS LL ND2310