Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/28/mali-timbuktu-library-ancient-manuscripts
Timbuktu mayor: Mali rebels torched library of historic manuscripts
Fleeing Islamist insurgents burnt two buildings containing priceless books as French-led troops approached, says mayor
Luke Harding in S?var?
guardian.co.uk, Monday 28 January 2013 17.07 GMT
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Islamist insurgents retreating from Timbuktu set fire to a library containing thousands of priceless historic manuscripts, according to the Saharan town's mayor, in an incident he described as a "devastating blow" to world heritage.
Hall? Ousmani Ciss? told the Guardian that al-Qaida-allied fighters on Saturday torched two buildings that held the manuscripts, some of which dated back to the 13th century. They also burned down the town hall, the governor's office and an MP's residence, and shot dead a man who was celebrating the arrival of the French military...
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Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/28/timbuktu-library-centuries-african-history
Timbuktu library ? a treasure house of centuries of Malian history
Famous manuscripts mainly date back from 14th to 16th centuries when city was hub for trade and Islamic knowledge
Peter Walker
guardian.co.uk, Monday 28 January 2013 13.17 GMT
Timbuktu's main library, officially called the Ahmed Baba Institute of Higher Islamic Studies and Research, is a treasure house containing more than 20,000 manuscripts covering centuries of Mali's history.
Named after the famous medieval writer and scholar, the manuscripts are housed in a purpose-built 4,600 sq metre (50,000 sq ft) complex completed in 2009 at a cost of around ?5m. Designed by South African architects and replacing a crumbling 40-year-old building, the new institute features air conditioning to preserve the manuscripts and an automatic fire-fighting system...
Timbuktu mayor: Mali rebels torched library of historic manuscripts
Fleeing Islamist insurgents burnt two buildings containing priceless books as French-led troops approached, says mayor
Luke Harding in S?var?
guardian.co.uk, Monday 28 January 2013 17.07 GMT
Jump to comments (450)
Islamist insurgents retreating from Timbuktu set fire to a library containing thousands of priceless historic manuscripts, according to the Saharan town's mayor, in an incident he described as a "devastating blow" to world heritage.
Hall? Ousmani Ciss? told the Guardian that al-Qaida-allied fighters on Saturday torched two buildings that held the manuscripts, some of which dated back to the 13th century. They also burned down the town hall, the governor's office and an MP's residence, and shot dead a man who was celebrating the arrival of the French military...
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Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/28/timbuktu-library-centuries-african-history
Timbuktu library ? a treasure house of centuries of Malian history
Famous manuscripts mainly date back from 14th to 16th centuries when city was hub for trade and Islamic knowledge
Peter Walker
guardian.co.uk, Monday 28 January 2013 13.17 GMT
Timbuktu's main library, officially called the Ahmed Baba Institute of Higher Islamic Studies and Research, is a treasure house containing more than 20,000 manuscripts covering centuries of Mali's history.
Named after the famous medieval writer and scholar, the manuscripts are housed in a purpose-built 4,600 sq metre (50,000 sq ft) complex completed in 2009 at a cost of around ?5m. Designed by South African architects and replacing a crumbling 40-year-old building, the new institute features air conditioning to preserve the manuscripts and an automatic fire-fighting system...