Peacekeepers 'deface ancient art'
UN peacekeepers in the disputed African territory of Western Sahara have vandalised ancient rock paintings, a UN official has told a UK newspaper.
The Times has published pictures of the paintings, some 6,000 years old, showing them defaced with spray paint.
UN peacekeepers were deployed in 1991 to monitor a ceasefire between Morocco and the Algerian-backed Polisario Front, which has been seeking independence for the territory.
"It is a tragedy that UN personnel tasked with resolving one of the world's longest running military and political conflicts are engaging in the wilful destruction of important archaeological sites that have much to teach us about the prehistory of a part of the world that is virtually unknown to the international research community," he writes on his Sand and Dust blog.
"I was appalled. You'd think some of them would know better. These are officers, not squaddies," Mr Harston said.
clipped from: news.bbc.co.uk 