Timbuktu's mayor said Islamists fleeing the town set fire to a library housing thousands of historic manuscripts. Officials say they do not yet know the extent of the damage.
Timbuktu's Historic Manuscripts and Mosques
![Sebuah kendaraan tentara Israel melewati ban-ban yang terbakar dalam sebuah operasi pencarian di kamp pengungsi di Tepi Barat kota Jenin, 17 Juni 2014.](https://gdb.voanews.com/F83C4B39-1977-4266-B89F-0B2451E8C3C7_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Sebuah kendaraan tentara Israel melewati ban-ban yang terbakar dalam sebuah operasi pencarian di kamp pengungsi di Tepi Barat kota Jenin, 17 Juni 2014.
![This April 15, 2012 shows town notables and two leaders of the Tuareg separatist NMLA in front of Sankore Mosque, a UNESCO World Heritage site, in Timbuktu, Mali.](https://gdb.voanews.com/448C0E87-0A9B-4122-AC56-6D9ADF362420_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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This April 15, 2012 shows town notables and two leaders of the Tuareg separatist NMLA in front of Sankore Mosque, a UNESCO World Heritage site, in Timbuktu, Mali.
![This May 1, 2012 photo shows a woman in front of a traditionally decorated door in Timbuktu, Mali.](https://gdb.voanews.com/F8FED9C9-ADC0-4F0E-96B5-C52CE6448E94_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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This May 1, 2012 photo shows a woman in front of a traditionally decorated door in Timbuktu, Mali.