Last update - 00:00 18/09/2006
UNESCO: 3 Lebanon World Heritage sites need urgent repairs
By The Associated Press
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization said on Monday that three UNESCO World Heritage sites in Lebanon, which include some of the Middle East's most significant ancient ruins, are in urgent need of repairs after a month of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.
A team of UN experts reported that the cities of Tyre and Baalbek were not directly hit, but were still damaged by the shaking caused by nearby bombings.
The cities include some of the finest examples of imperial Roman architecture.
The ancient port city of Byblos, north of Beirut, was damaged by a massive oil spill caused by the bombing of a power plant in mid-July. It has been described as Lebanon's worst environmental disaster.
"The site must be cleaned up before winter," said Mounir Bouchenaki, who headed the mission.
Lebanon has six World Heritage sites in total. The other three are the city of Anjar, the Holy Valley and the Forest of the Cedars of the Gods.