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Syria clashes destroy ancient Aleppo minaret | Syria clashes destroy ancient Aleppo minaret |
(35 minutes later) | |
The minaret of one of Syria's most famous mosques has been destroyed during clashes in the northern city of Aleppo. | The minaret of one of Syria's most famous mosques has been destroyed during clashes in the northern city of Aleppo. |
The state news agency Sana accused rebels of blowing up the 11th Century minaret of the Umayyad Mosque. | The state news agency Sana accused rebels of blowing up the 11th Century minaret of the Umayyad Mosque. |
However, activists say the minaret was hit by Syrian army tank fire. | However, activists say the minaret was hit by Syrian army tank fire. |
The mosque, which is a Unesco world heritage site, has been in rebel hands since earlier this year but the area around it is still contested. | The mosque, which is a Unesco world heritage site, has been in rebel hands since earlier this year but the area around it is still contested. |
Last October Unesco appealed for the protection of the site, which it described as "one of the most beautiful mosques in the Muslim world". | Last October Unesco appealed for the protection of the site, which it described as "one of the most beautiful mosques in the Muslim world". |
Images posted on the internet showed the minaret reduced to a pile of rubble in the mosque's tiled courtyard. | Images posted on the internet showed the minaret reduced to a pile of rubble in the mosque's tiled courtyard. |
Other parts of the mosque complex - which dates mostly from the 12th Century - have been badly damaged by gunfire and shell hits. | |
A report by Sana said fighters from the al-Qaeda-linked Jabhat al-Nusra group had destroyed the once famous landmark. | A report by Sana said fighters from the al-Qaeda-linked Jabhat al-Nusra group had destroyed the once famous landmark. |
It quoted an official source saying that "terrorists... placed explosive materials in the minaret and the mosque's southern door and set them off". | It quoted an official source saying that "terrorists... placed explosive materials in the minaret and the mosque's southern door and set them off". |
However, Aleppo-based activist Mohammed al-Khatib, quoted by AP news agency, said a tank shell had "totally destroyed" the 45m (148ft) minaret. | However, Aleppo-based activist Mohammed al-Khatib, quoted by AP news agency, said a tank shell had "totally destroyed" the 45m (148ft) minaret. |
The mosque has suffered extensive damage during months of fighting, with antique furnishings and intricately sculpted colonnades affected. | |
Reports say some ancient artefacts have also been looted, including a box purported to contain a strand of the Prophet Muhammad's hair. | |
However, rebels said they had salvaged ancient handwritten Koranic manuscripts and hidden them. | |
Battle for airbase | |
Earlier, rebels and government forces reportedly clashed near Aleppo as they fought for control of a military airbase. | Earlier, rebels and government forces reportedly clashed near Aleppo as they fought for control of a military airbase. |
Rebels took a key military position outside the Minnigh airport on Tuesday and launched another raid on Wednesday, according to opposition activists with the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. | Rebels took a key military position outside the Minnigh airport on Tuesday and launched another raid on Wednesday, according to opposition activists with the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. |
"The rebels, who have laid siege to the airport for months now, entered it for the first time around dawn," Rami Abdel Rahman, director of the UK-based activist group, told AFP news agency. | "The rebels, who have laid siege to the airport for months now, entered it for the first time around dawn," Rami Abdel Rahman, director of the UK-based activist group, told AFP news agency. |
Heavy fighting was taking place in the grounds, he added. | Heavy fighting was taking place in the grounds, he added. |
Analysts say losing control of the airport would be a strategic blow for the government. | Analysts say losing control of the airport would be a strategic blow for the government. |
The Free Syrian Army has been trying to seize a number of airbases in the area to disrupt regime supply routes. | The Free Syrian Army has been trying to seize a number of airbases in the area to disrupt regime supply routes. |
In another development on Wednesday, Syria's Deputy Foreign Minister told the BBC that his country was fighting a war against terrorism. | In another development on Wednesday, Syria's Deputy Foreign Minister told the BBC that his country was fighting a war against terrorism. |
Faisal Mekdad said the international community should be supporting President Assad and his government. | Faisal Mekdad said the international community should be supporting President Assad and his government. |
Asked if he thought the Syrian government could still defeat the rebels, he said: "We shall defend our sovereignty and independence to the last drop. We have a strong army, we have a lot of our people who are supporting the government, who are uniting their ranks to defend the country. And in such a situation they will never defeat Syria." | |
According to the UN, at least 70,000 people have been killed in the civil war and more than a million are now living as refugees in neighbouring countries. |