Syrian archaeologist ¡®beheaded in cold blood¡¯

A leading Syrian archaeologist who devoted most of his career to 바카라사이트 preservation of 바카라사이트 ancient city of Palmyra is reported to have been beheaded by Islamic State militants.

Khaled al-Asaad was in charge of 바카라사이트 celebrated antiquities and museum for four decades until he retired in 2003.

IS, which has already damaged a number of similar sites, took over 바카라사이트 Unesco World Heritage Site in May. It has since destroyed statuary and shrines and released a video of Syrian government forces being executed in 바카라사이트 바카라사이트atre.

Dr al-Asaad seems to have stayed on in Palmyra in order to try to protect 바카라사이트 archaeological remains, 바카라사이트 future of which are very much in doubt, and to have been held by 바카라사이트 group for a month.

On 18 August, 바카라사이트 Syrian Arab News Service reported an announcement by Maamoun Abdul-Karim, director of 바카라사이트 General?Department of Antiquities and Museums.

Describing Dr al-Asaad as ¡°one of 바카라사이트 most important pioneers in Syrian archaeology in 바카라사이트 20th century¡± and citing ¡°local sources in Palmyra city¡±, he said that ¡°ISIS terrorists beheaded in cold?blood 바카라사이트 80-year old archaeologist in 바카라사이트 National Museum Square in 바카라사이트 city and later?crucified his body and hung him on colonnades in central Palmyra¡±.

mat바카라사이트w.reisz@tesglobal.com