Ban hails removal of IS from Syria's Palmyra
[AMMAN] United Nations chief Ban Ki Moon on Sunday welcomed the removal of Islamic State jihadists from Syria's ancient Palmyra, calling for the site to be protected for future generations.
In a news conference in Jordan, Mr Ban said he was "encouraged" that the UNESCO world heritage site is out of extremist hands and that the Syrian government "is now able to preserve and protect this human common cultural asset".
He called on "all the people around the world to protect and preserve this common asset of humanity." IS seized Palmyra in May last year and destroyed the grand Temple of Bel, the shrine of Baal Shamin and several funerary towers which the jihadists consider blasphemous.
Syrian government forces recaptured the city on Sunday.
Known to Syrians as the "Pearl of the Desert", Palmyra boasted temples, colonnaded alleys and elaborately decorated tombs that were some of the best preserved classical monuments in the Middle East.
AFP
KEYWORDS IN THIS ARTICLE
BT is now on Telegram!
For daily updates on weekdays and specially selected content for the weekend. Subscribe to t.me/BizTimes
International
Abu Dhabi’s IHC to buy back up to US$1.4 billion of its shares
Israel strikes Gaza city of Rafah after evacuation order
Britain's King Charles III marks first anniversary of coronation
German deficit forecast at 1.75% in 2024, says stability council
SNP veteran John Swinney set to be Scotland’s next leader
Shell in talks to sell Malaysia fuel stations to Saudi Aramco: sources