Bomb explodes at Iraq's Samarra mosque

SAMARRA, Iraq, Dec 12 (Reuters) A bomb exploded today near the entrance of Samarra's Golden Mosque, site of a February bombing that unleashed a wave of sectarian violence in Iraq, causing little damage, the US military said.

The February bombing of al-Askari mosque, one of the holiest in Shi'ite Islam in Iraq, sparked reprisal killings between Shi'ites and Sunnis that have cost thousands of lives and complicated plans by the United States to withdraw its 140,000 troops.

A US military statement said an Iraqi police bomb disposal team was sent to defuse the bomb after it was discovered at the main doorway of the mosque during a routine patrol.

''The team was successful in removing the detonation wire and fuse. However, during their attempt to remove the bomb, it exploded and caused minimal damage to the door and entry way,'' the statement said.

US Lieutenant Colonel Viet Luong said the bomb had been built to ''cause maximum damage''.

REUTERS PDM RN2113