Mali Islamists destroy holy Timbuktu sites: witnesses

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Mali Islamists destroy holy Timbuktu sites: witnesses



DAKAR (Reuters) - Armed Malian fighters from the Ansar Dine Islamist group on Saturday destroyed mausoleums in the ancient trading city of Timbuktu, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site, witnesses said. "They have already completely destroyed the mausoleum of Sidi Mahmoud (Ben Amar) and two others. They said they would continue all day and destroy all 16," local Malian journalist Yeya Tandina said by telephone of the 16 most prized resting grounds of local saints in the town. (Reporting and writing by Mark John in Dakar; Editing by Alison Williams)









EU ends police mission in Bosnia after a decade



SARAJEVO (Reuters) - A European Union police mission in Bosnia ended on Saturday after a decade of training local police forces and overseeing law enforcement agencies that were rebuilt almost from scratch after the 1992-95 war. The pullout of some 130 European Union Police Mission (EUPM) officials came as the small Balkan country is hoping to apply for EU membership this year. ...






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