Fighting Damages Historic Mosque in Syria's Aleppo

Clashes between Syrian troops and rebel fighters inside and outside the Umayyad Mosque in second city Aleppo have damaged the 13th century landmark, an AFP correspondent reported on Monday.

Fire has destroyed some of the antique carpets and wooden furnishings that used to adorn the place of worship and charred one of its intricately sculpted colonnades.

A day after troops recaptured the complex in heavy fighting with rebel fighters, spent cartridges and broken glass still littered the ground.

Three hairs and part of a tooth that are said to have belonged to the Prophet Mohammed and that were among the mosque's most renowned relics were stolen from inside.

President Bashar Assad ordered the formation of a panel to oversee restoration work at the mosque, the state SANA news agency reported.

The site has been a place of Muslim worship since the 8th century but the original building was razed by the Mongols in the 13th century, from when the current structure dates.

An adjacent library housed a collection of rare religious books. The extent of any damage to the collection was not immediately clear.

Fighting has raged in Syria's commercial capital since mid-July, including in its UNESCO-listed Old City which embraces the ancient citadel and historic covered market, or souk, as well as the mosque.

Clashes between troops and rebels in the souk late last month sparked a fire which damaged parts of the market.