The Askariya shrine also was bombed in February 2006, but there had been no work on rebuilding the structure since then.

CNN: Gunmen in military uniforms kill 29 in Iraqi village

U.S. and British officials say that vacuum is fueling sectarian violence between Sunnis and Shiites, which has grown since the bombing in February of Al-Askariya Mosque, a revered Shiite shrine in Samarra.

CNN: Iraqi interim PM tells party he'd step down

The bloc's leader, Nassar Rubaie, said Tuesday that the government had addressed its concerns over the need to pursue the rebuilding of Al-Askariya Mosque, the bombed-out Shiite shrine in Samarra, and to improve security at the shrine and other holy places.

CNN: Gunmen in military uniforms kill 29 in Iraqi village