IN BRIEF (Page 11)

Iraq

UN condemns 'cultural cleansing'

The United Nations cultural body on Saturday condemned what it said was the destruction of the ancient city of Hatra in Iraq by the Islamic State jihadist group. "The destruction of Hatra marks a turning point in the appalling strategy of cultural cleansing underway in Iraq," UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova said. Hatra is a well-preserved Roman city with a rare architectural mix. It is located in a desert area about 100 kilometers southwest of the northern jihadist hub of Mosul.