UNESCO confirms destruction of Bamiyan Buddhas

larger      larger   CNN obtained these exclusive photos of the destruction of Buddhist statues in Afghanistan, taken by an Afghani free-lance photographer at the scene

PARIS, France -- The international community is reacting with sadness and anger over the destruction of priceless pre-Islamic statues in Afghanistan.

Museums and governments around the world had hoped to save two Buddhas that had been carved into the stone cliffs of Bamiyan.

But UNESCO's special envoy to Afghanistan has confirmed that the statues have been completely destroyed.

The Taleban, the radical Islamic movement that rules Afghanistan, regarded the statues as false idols and ordered their destruction several weeks ago.

"It is abominable to witness the cold and calculated destruction of cultural properties which were the heritage of the Afghan people, and, indeed, of the whole of humanity," UNESCO chief Koichiro Matsuura said in a statement.

"Everything possible must be done to stop further destruction. I have asked my special envoy to continue his mission and explore all avenues that may allow for the safeguarding of other treasures of Afghanistan's pre-Islamic heritage," he said.

But the UNESCO chief also pleaded with the international community not to take its anger and frustration out on Muslim sites elsewhere.

RESOURCES UNESCO - Thumbnails Of Threatened Afghan Greco-Buddhist Art     MESSAGE BOARD Afghan statues    GALLERY Afghanistan's Buddhist heritage Afghanistan under the Taleban

"As inexcusable as this action is, I hope that it will not provide fanatics elsewhere with an excuse for acts of destruction targeting Muslim cultural properties," he said.

Passive spectator to the disaster

But the Taleban's closest ally, Pakistan, believes the international community needs to accept that it had played a role in the statues destruction.

Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar said countries didnt send enough envoys to plead with the radical Muslim group.

The whole world community remained a passive spectator to the disaster to the irreparable damage to the worlds cultural heritage, he said.

In Bangladesh, Foreign Minister Abdus Samad Azad condemned the destruction of the statues during a news conference.

"We want the protection and preservation of world heritage sites and urge all to contribute to this effort," he said.

Hundreds of teachers, artists and cultural activists also marched through the streets of Dhaka to denounced what they called the barbaric destruction of the statues.

The Associated Press & Reuters contributed to this report.

U.N. chief tries to save statues
March 10, 2001
Pakistan, Japan step into Buddha row
March 9, 2001
Analysis: Buddhas' fate signifies Taleban divisions
March 2, 2001

Society for the Preservation of Aghanistan's Cultural Heritage
United Nations
Taleban

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