Militants from Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS)
beheaded one of Syria's most prominent antiquities scholars in the ancient town
of Palmyra, then hung his body from one of the town's Roman columns, Syrian
state media and an activist group said Wednesday.
The killing of 81-year-old Khaled al-Asaad was the latest
atrocity perpetrated by the militant group, which has captured a third of both
Syria and neighbouring Iraq and declared a self-styled "caliphate" on
the territory it controls.
Since ISIS overran Palmyra in May, there have been fears the
extremists, who have destroyed famed archeological sites in 
Iraq, would
demolish the 2,000-year-old Roman-era city at the edge of the town — a UNESCO
world heritage site and one of the Mideast's most spectacular archeological
sites.
Iraq, would
demolish the 2,000-year-old Roman-era city at the edge of the town — a UNESCO
world heritage site and one of the Mideast's most spectacular archeological
sites.
According to Syrian state news agency SANA and the Britain-based
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, al-Assad was beheaded on Tuesday in a
square outside the town's museum.
The Observatory, which has a network of activists on the ground in Syria, said dozens of people gathered to witness the killing. Al-Asaad had been held by the ISIS for about a month, it added.
The Observatory, which has a network of activists on the ground in Syria, said dozens of people gathered to witness the killing. Al-Asaad had been held by the ISIS for about a month, it added.
Source: CBC...More...
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