Palmyra's Temple of Bel 'still standing'

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Palmyra's ancient Temple of Bel is still standing despite an attempt by Islamic State (IS) militants to blow it up, Syria's antiquities chief has said.

The Temple of Bel is considered the most important structure of its kind at the site

Maamoun Abdulkarim confirmed there was a large explosion within its perimeter but said the basic structure of the 2,000-year-old site was intact.
But the extent of the damage is unclear with witnesses unable to get close to the temple.

The Temple of Bel, or Baal, is of unique design, according to Unesco

Initial reports said the site had been partially destroyed.
Mr Abdulkarim, head of the Syrian Department of Antiquities and Museums, said "our information is provisional, but it indicates that any damage done was partial, and the basic structure is still standing".

Last week, IS blew up the much smaller Baalshamin temple at the site. However, Mr Abdulkarim says that the explosion at the Temple of Bel was "different" to the "huge quantity of explosives" used to destroy the Baalshamin.
However, he said they would have to wait for pictures to emerge as "witnesses can't get close enough to be sure what damage was done."

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