Baghdad, Sep 3 (IANS) A US explosive expert was killed on Tuesday while attempting to defuse a landmine in Iraq's Nineveh province, officials said.

The incident took place at 7 a.m. (local time) in a village near the town of al-Qayyara, some 50 km south of Nineveh's provincial capital Mosul, said Salih al-Jubouri, Mayor of the town.

The US expert sustained serious wounds and died later in the hospital, Al-Jubouri was cited as saying by Xinhua news agency.

The expert was working for a foreign organization in cooperation with the US Agency for International Development, an American government agency primarily responsible for managing foreign civilian assistance.

Many international organizations have been involved in efforts to stabilize the areas liberated from the control of Islamic State militants, including organizations specializing in dismantling landmines and military ordnance to enable residents to return safely to their homes.