UNESCO chief alarmed by clashes near Palmyra

(MENAFN- Arab News) BEIRUT: The UN cultural agency expressed alarm Friday over clashes between Islamic State militants and Syrian government forces near the ancient city of Palmyra one of the Middle East's most famous UNESCO world heritage sites.
UNESCO chief Irina Bokova said Palmyra famous for its 2000-year-old ruins should be spared from the fighting. She spoke to reporters in Beirut after meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the Local Coordination Committees said government warplanes have been attacking IS positions on the eastern edge of Palmyra. There has also been fighting on the ground the activist groups said.
On Friday Syrian state news agency SANA said troops were 'chasing' IS fighters in several areas north and east of Palmyra.
The Observatory said the fighting near Palmyra on Friday killed three IS fighters and 10 government troops.
The Syrian government has urged the international community to protect Palmyra from IS which recently destroyed several archaeological sites in neighboring Iraq.
Bokova expressed concern over Palmyra saying 'heritage sites should not be used for military purposes.'
'I appealed yesterday to all parties concerned to protect Palmyra and to leave it outside their military activity' she said.
'The site has already suffered four years of conflict' she said in an earlier statement adding that it 'represents an irreplaceable treasure for the Syrian people and for the world.'
Maamoun Abdulkarim Syria's director-general of antiquities and museums said the situation Friday is better than the day before with the army 'firmly controlling the city.'
An activist based in the central province of Homs who goes by the name of Bebars Al-Talawy said IS is bringing reinforcements from the nearby province of Deir el-Zour. He said the government is also deploying additional forces.