Libya's iconic statue goes missing

An iconic Italian-era statue of a naked woman caressing a gazelle has mysteriously disappeared from a famous roundabout in the Libyan capital, Tripoli. The historic bronze statue sat proudly in a fountain until Tuesday morning, but no trace of it is now left.

It is not known who pulled it down, but many blame Islamist militias.

They have been accused of targeting Ottoman-era mosques and tombs, which they regard as idolatrous, since 2012. The BBC's Rana Jawad in Tripoli says the statue overlooked the Mediterranean sea, and had been around since Italian colonial rule. 

The historical landmark was known to locals as the "Gazelle roundabout", she says.
An official statement from the office of Tripoli's municipal authorities said they condemned the disappearance.

"We call on our Libyan brothers to protect Libya's heritage and antiquities. We have contacted the authorities and they have opened an investigation into the matter and we promise the residents of Tripoli that we will get the criminals," it said.

BBC