Timbuktu’s 14th century heritage is the latest victim of destruction in crisis-ridden Mali

Some of the world’s relics of great historical and cultural value in Mali were on Tuesday felled by militants in Mali.

 The destructions include tombs of the famous 14th century Djingareyber mosque in Timbuktu, classified by UNESCO as a world heritage site. 

One of Timbuktu's Cultural and religious relics of UNESCO Heritage Site status destroyed yesterday by the Malian militants.

According to UNESCO, Djingareyber, Sankore and Sidi Yahia mosques, are known as the three great mosques of the city. Victims of the continued destruction have been listed as 16 mausoleums, tombs and a sacred door at Sidi Yahya mosque.

  Djingareyber was built by Sultan Kankan Moussa, after his return in 1325 from a pilgrimage to Mecca.

 Militants in Mali have taken over two-thirds of the country’s desert north region, in the wake of the political crisis.

  Sources said over 10 militants arrived in an armored truck, and fired in the air before attacking the tombs.

 This was coming after historic and religious landmarks in Timbuktu were attacked last week. UNESCO condemned the attacks and described them as "wanton destruction".

The militants known as Ansar Dine argue the centuries-old shrines of the local Sufi version of Islam are idolatrous.

  The crisis started with a separatist uprising by local Tuareg MNLA rebels, but observers note that the Ansar Dine and other allies, including an al Qaeda splinter group MUJWA, have hijacked the rebellion. The coalition now controls two-thirds of Mali’s north, which includes the regions such as Gao, Kidal and Timbuktu.