Islamist militants have filmed themselves vandalising British war graves in a military cemetery in Libya.

The attack is understood to have taken place last week - possibly in revenge for US soldiers accidentally burning copies of the Koran in Afghanistan . According to reports militants in Benghazi, liberated last year from Colonel Gaddafi with help from British forces, attacked more than 150 graves.The Libyan graves belong to British serviceman killed during the Second World War in the north African area.Headstones at the Benghazi war cemetery were pulled down, with crucifixes destroyed by vandals.

Some attackers were carrying guns and wearing combat fatigues.Libya is the resting place for many Commonwealth soldiers who died during intense campaigns against Rommel's German forces, including the famous Desert Rats of Tobruk.

The National Transitional Council issued an apology on its website over the incident -

"The Transitional National Assembly records its deep regret at what happened," the statement said. "It strongly condemns these acts which are incompatible with the teachings of Shariah phalanx, it pledges to work to address this phenomenon and the prosecution of the perpetrators in accordance with Libyan law which criminalises such acts."

Although freed from authoritarian control with the aid of Nato last year, the country is still struggling to adapt to democracy.

AF/Reuters.



THE RELIGION OF PEACE