Iraqi mosque targeted with bomb; 12 dead

MUSAYYIB, Iraq, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Twelve people were killed and 19 wounded Friday when a suicide bomber detonated his explosive vest in the courtyard of a Shiite mosque in Iraq, officials said.

The explosion occurred as about 700 people attendrf a prayer session in Musayyib, located about 50 miles south of Baghdad, The New York Times reported.

The predominantly Shiite town has been a repeated target of attacks. The mosque hit this time is run by followers of the anti-American cleric Moqtada Sadr, the Times said.

The U.S. newspaper said the bomber got by the main checkpoints where worshipers were searched, said an Iraqi Army officer, who said he could not be quoted by name because he was not authorized to speak to the news media.

The attack came the day after the Iraqi Parliament ratified a security agreement outlining the timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. forces in Iraq.