Libya sorry for grave vandalism
Source: Agencies |
March 5, 2012, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
LIBYA'S leadership has apologized after armed men smashed the graves of British and Italian soldiers killed during World War Two, in an act of vandalism that appeared to be directed against non-Muslims.
Amateur video footage of the attack, posted on social networking site Facebook, showed men casually kicking over headstones in a war cemetery and using sledge hammers to smash a metal and stone cross.
One man can be heard saying: "This is a grave of a Christian" as he uprooted a headstone from the ground.
Another voice in the footage says of the people buried in the cemetery: "These are dogs."
The attack happened in the eastern city of Benghazi, near where British and Commonwealth troops fought heavy battles against German and Italian forces during the 1939-45 war.
The National Transitional Council, Libya's interim leadership since last year's uprising forced out Muammar Gaddafi, said it would pursue those responsible.
"The NTC apologizes for the incident with the foreign graves, especially the British and Italian graves," it said in a statement. "This action is not in keeping with Islam."
"The NTC will confront this matter and, in line with Libyan law, will pursue those people who committed this act. This action does not reflect Libyan public opinion because Islam calls for respect for other religions."
The NTC has close ties with Western countries after a NATO bombing campaign helped it to oust Gaddafi.
British Foreign Office minister Jeremy Browne said "it was an absolutely appalling story and people will be shocked by the photos."
But he told Sky News television: "I wouldn't want people to think that this is somehow a demonstration of ingratitude by the government of Libya, that is not the case."
More than 200 headstones in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery in Benghazi were damaged as was the Cross of Remembrance, the British foreign office said in a statement.
About a quarter of the headstones in the Benghazi Military Cemetery were also attacked on February 24 and 26.
Amateur video footage of the attack, posted on social networking site Facebook, showed men casually kicking over headstones in a war cemetery and using sledge hammers to smash a metal and stone cross.
One man can be heard saying: "This is a grave of a Christian" as he uprooted a headstone from the ground.
Another voice in the footage says of the people buried in the cemetery: "These are dogs."
The attack happened in the eastern city of Benghazi, near where British and Commonwealth troops fought heavy battles against German and Italian forces during the 1939-45 war.
The National Transitional Council, Libya's interim leadership since last year's uprising forced out Muammar Gaddafi, said it would pursue those responsible.
"The NTC apologizes for the incident with the foreign graves, especially the British and Italian graves," it said in a statement. "This action is not in keeping with Islam."
"The NTC will confront this matter and, in line with Libyan law, will pursue those people who committed this act. This action does not reflect Libyan public opinion because Islam calls for respect for other religions."
The NTC has close ties with Western countries after a NATO bombing campaign helped it to oust Gaddafi.
British Foreign Office minister Jeremy Browne said "it was an absolutely appalling story and people will be shocked by the photos."
But he told Sky News television: "I wouldn't want people to think that this is somehow a demonstration of ingratitude by the government of Libya, that is not the case."
More than 200 headstones in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery in Benghazi were damaged as was the Cross of Remembrance, the British foreign office said in a statement.
About a quarter of the headstones in the Benghazi Military Cemetery were also attacked on February 24 and 26.
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