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‘Five years’ to undo damage done to Palmyra in 10 months under Isis, Syrian expert says | ‘Five years’ to undo damage done to Palmyra in 10 months under Isis, Syrian expert says |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Restoring the ancient city of Palmyra to its former glory and undoing the damage done by the Isis militant group could take five years, according to Syria’s antiquities chief. | |
Maamoun Abulkarim said a team of experts was set to arrive in the ancient city little more than 24 hours after the Syrian army declared it had recovered “complete control” over the Roman-era ruins. | |
The Damascus-based official said he hoped to visit Palmyra to assess the damage done since Isis captured the Unesco world heritage site in May last year. | |
Speaking to the AFP news agency, Mr Abdulkarim appeared to sound a hopeful note that, after expecting the worst, the landscape, in general is in "good shape”. | |
Two of Palmyra’s finest structures, including the 2,000-year-old Temple of Bel, have been almost completely destroyed. | |
The group also appears to have destroyed a dozen of the city’s best-preserved tower tombs, as well as the shrine of Baal Shamin. | |
But Mr Abdulkarim said around 80 per cent of the city, including the impressive ancient amphitheatre used by Isis as a setting for executions, remained standing. | But Mr Abdulkarim said around 80 per cent of the city, including the impressive ancient amphitheatre used by Isis as a setting for executions, remained standing. |
He told AFP: “If we have Unesco’s approval, we will need five years to restore the structures damaged or destroyed by Isis.” | He told AFP: “If we have Unesco’s approval, we will need five years to restore the structures damaged or destroyed by Isis.” |
Work could potentially begin within a year, he said, adding that Syria already has “the qualified staff, the knowledge and the research” to do so. | Work could potentially begin within a year, he said, adding that Syria already has “the qualified staff, the knowledge and the research” to do so. |
On Sunday, state TV showed the rubble left over from the destruction of the Temple of Bel in Palmyra, as well as the damaged archway, the supports of which are still standing. | On Sunday, state TV showed the rubble left over from the destruction of the Temple of Bel in Palmyra, as well as the damaged archway, the supports of which are still standing. |
Artefacts inside the city's museum also appeared heavily damaged on state TV. A sculpture of the Greek goddess Athena was decapitated, and the museum's basement appeared to have been dynamited, the hall littered with broken statues. | Artefacts inside the city's museum also appeared heavily damaged on state TV. A sculpture of the Greek goddess Athena was decapitated, and the museum's basement appeared to have been dynamited, the hall littered with broken statues. |
State media reported that a lion statue dating back to the second century, previously thought to have been destroyed by IS militants, was found in a damaged but recoverable condition. | State media reported that a lion statue dating back to the second century, previously thought to have been destroyed by IS militants, was found in a damaged but recoverable condition. |
Mr Abdulkarim told the Associated Press that Isis fighters smashed the statues' faces but did not totally destroy them. | Mr Abdulkarim told the Associated Press that Isis fighters smashed the statues' faces but did not totally destroy them. |
"We can renovate them," he said. "Yes, we lost part of the original but we didn't totally lose them." | "We can renovate them," he said. "Yes, we lost part of the original but we didn't totally lose them." |
The Russian government has confirmed it played a part in the three-week military operation to take Palmyra that saw the bulk of Isis forces finally retreat under cover of darkness on Saturday night. | |
The Kremlin said the Russian air force would continue to assist Syrian government troops - but denied reports Russian soldiers were used on the ground. | The Kremlin said the Russian air force would continue to assist Syrian government troops - but denied reports Russian soldiers were used on the ground. |
"We are talking about air support by our planes. Our armed forces are not conducting any land operations there," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. | "We are talking about air support by our planes. Our armed forces are not conducting any land operations there," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. |
"After the withdrawal of part of our (military) contingent from Syria, air force units remaining at two bases - in Hmeymim and Tartous - will continue fighting terrorist groups ... and will continue supporting the Syrian's army's offensive." | "After the withdrawal of part of our (military) contingent from Syria, air force units remaining at two bases - in Hmeymim and Tartous - will continue fighting terrorist groups ... and will continue supporting the Syrian's army's offensive." |
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