France Sends Troops to Mali to Help Counter Islamist Advance

[UnrepentantLiberal]

2. And they're destroying UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Assholes.

Mali: Islamists take pickaxes to Timbuktu's ancient mausoleums

Armed groups occupying Timbuktu in northern Mali have used pickaxes to smash up any remaining mausoleums in the ancient city.

The rebels' ruthless implementation of their version of Islamic law comes just days after the United Nations approved a military force to wrest back control of the conflict-ridden area.

"Not a single mausoleum will remain in Timbuktu, Allah doesn't like it," Abou Dardar, leader of the Islamist Ansar Dine group, told AFP. "We are in the process of smashing all the hidden mausoleums in the area."

Witnesses confirmed the claims.

Anything that doesn't fall under Islam "is not good. Man should only worship Allah," Mohamed Alfoul, a member of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), said.

The vandalism of the Muslim saints' tombs in the UNESCO World Heritage site came a day after other Islamists in the northern city of Gao announced they had amputated two people's hands.

More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/mali/9764434/Mali-Islamists-take-pickaxes-to-Timbuktus-ancient-mausoleums.html