Timbuktu: Back From the Brink

Troops are now protecting "crossroads of Africa."

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Timbuktu in Danger - As the world clamored to save Mali's historic city of Timbuktu from Islamist rebels, troops from Mali and France launched an offensive, regaining control over the city and re-securing Timbuktu's fabled relics.(Photo: REUTERS/Joe Penney)

Crossroads of Africa - Located in Northern Mali, the ancient city of Timbuktu was once the crossroads of both the African continent and the Muslim world in the 15th and 16th centuries as scholars and pilgrims came to learn in the halls of its great mosques and to trade with other civilizations.  (Photo: REUTERS/Adama Diarra)

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Crossroads of Africa - Located in Northern Mali, the ancient city of Timbuktu was once the crossroads of both the African continent and the Muslim world in the 15th and 16th centuries as scholars and pilgrims came to learn in the halls of its great mosques and to trade with other civilizations.  (Photo: REUTERS/Adama Diarra)

Historic Timbuktu in Danger - Islamist militants in Mali attacked one of the most famous mosques in Timbuktu just days after UNESCO named the city an endangered world heritage site.   (Photo: Adama Diarra /LANDOV)

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Three Giants - The arrival of Islamic militants in Mali's North put Timbuktu’s three main mosques, Djingareyber, Sankore and Sidi Yahia, in danger. In July 2012, Islamists destroyed two tombs inside the Djingareyber mosque, which was built by sultan Kankan Moussa in 1325.   (Photo: REUTERS/Adama Diarra)

Situation Room - The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) committee on world heritage held a special session in 2012 to address the destruction of the world heritage site and is created a special fund to help Mali in the conservation of its cultural heritage. (Photo: AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)

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Situation Room - The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) committee on world heritage held a special session in 2012 to address the destruction of the world heritage site and is created a special fund to help Mali in the conservation of its cultural heritage. (Photo: AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)

U.N. Council Threatens Sanctions on Mali Fighters - The U.N. Security Council threatened sanctions against Islamist fighters in northern Mali and condemned the destruction of sacred tombs in the ancient city of Timbuktu Thursday. (Photo: Diakaridia Dembele/AP Photo)

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Trigger Point - Al-Qaeda-linked Islamic group Ansar Dine is being blamed for the destruction, whose goal is to “pulverize” the desert city’s ancient mausoleums and tombs to rid the area of idol worship. It is believed the recent onslaught of attacks may have been triggered by UNESCO’s decision to put Timbuktu on a list of endangered World Heritage sites. (Photo: AP Photo/Diakaridia Dembele)

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Documents in Danger - Scholars worry about the tens of thousands of ancient documents that are housed in libraries and private collections in Timbuktu. Many believe that these provide proof of Africa’s oft-overlooked written history dating back to the time of the European Renaissance. (Photo: EVAN SCHNEIDER/AFP/GettyImages)

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Documents in Danger - Scholars worry about the tens of thousands of ancient documents that are housed in libraries and private collections in Timbuktu. Many believe that these provide proof of Africa’s oft-overlooked written history dating back to the time of the European Renaissance. (Photo: EVAN SCHNEIDER/AFP/GettyImages)

Picking Them Apart - In addition to the fabled mosques, the shrines of local saints are among the protected sites in Timbuktu. However, the al-Qaeda-linked Islamist fighters destroying the area are using pick-axes, shovels and hammers to destroy the tombs and shrines and say the destruction is helping to defend their faith against idol worship. (Photo: STR/AFP/GettyImages)

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Picking Them Apart - In addition to the fabled mosques, the shrines of local saints are among the protected sites in Timbuktu. However, the al-Qaeda-linked Islamist fighters destroying the area are using pick-axes, shovels and hammers to destroy the tombs and shrines and say the destruction is helping to defend their faith against idol worship. (Photo: STR/AFP/GettyImages)