The head of the U.N. cultural agency denounced the IS group's destruction of ancient statues and artifacts as "cultural cleansing" and a war crime that the world must punish, AP reported. Irina Bokova, director-general of Paris-based UNESCO, said she couldn't finish watching IS video posted this week that shows men using sledgehammers to smash the Mesopotamian artworks in Iraq's northern city of Mosul. She called the video "a real shock." Speaking to reporters Friday, Bokova announced the creation of a "global coalition against the illegal trafficking of cultural goods" that will meet in coming weeks. She has also asked for an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on protecting Iraq's cultural heritage. -- SPA 19:09 LOCAL TIME 16:09 GMT تغريد
