Restoring a graveyard in Libya

Restoring a graveyard in Libya

When a group of armed youths filmed themselves earlier this year desecrating graves of foreign soldiers who fought and died in World War Two, it created outrage and resulted in widespread condemnation.

It was a cause of embarrassment for Libya's new authorities and their Western allies.

The incident underlined the challenges a new Libya faces with reigning in ultra-conservative Islamists who promote an ideology that condemns the building of any marked graves, whether Muslim or non-Muslim.

Numerous shrines have been desecrated across Libya since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi.

Now the body responsible for the cemetery maintenance has now replaced the broken gravestones with temporary markers made from galvanized steel.

Residents welcome the restoration.

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LOCAL RESIDENT, MUSTAFA AL-FIRJANI, SAYING:

"We are against acts of sabotage and the desecration (of graves). All this harms the reputation of Islam."

Authorities hope to return the cemetery to its former state by September this year, well in time for memorial day in November.

Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters