Islamic cultural organisation tells Kabul to halt destruction of statues
 
RABAT, March 2 (AFP) - An Islamic cultural organization Friday joined the international outcry against the Afghan government's decision to destroy ancient statues that it said are "part of humanity's heritage."

The Taliban militia said earlier that they had begun shelling ancient Buddha statues in the central province of Bamiyan following earlier threats that they would destroy all statues in Afghanistan, including the world's tallest standing Buddha.

"These statues are not cult objects and there is nothing about them that can harm Islam," the Islamic Education, Science and Culture Organization (ISESCO), said in a statement received here by AFP.

ISESCO also called on its member states to intervene quickly. "The destruction of statues will harm the image of Islam," the statement said.

Appeals to spare the Afghan relics have come from across the world, with many museums and other organizations offering to buy the artifacts to preserve them.