US strongly condemns destruction of Muslim sites in Mali

The United States has strongly condemned destruction of Muslim shrines in Mali calling for an "immediate" end to these acts. State Department Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said in a statement, late on Wednesday, that the U.S. "strongly condemns the destruction of Muslim shrines and other religious and historic sites in Timbuktu by Islamic militants, including Ansar al-Dine." She stressed "we are outraged by the continued destruction of these World Heritage Sites and the ongoing intimidation of local populations." She noted "we join UNESCO in urging an immediate end to these destructive and irreversible acts and call for all parties to protect this invaluable cultural heritage for future generations." "This is an assault not just on Mali but on the heritage of all Africans, and those responsible for these acts should be brought to justice," she remarked. Nuland affirmed "we remain deeply concerned about the situation of the Malian people," saying that Mali "has been a strong partner of the United States in the areas of democracy and governance, economic development, peace and security." She stressed "we strongly insist that all actors in Mali respect human rights and international humanitarian law."