Syria's Palmyra can be restored 'in 5 years'

Islamic State fighters seized control of Palmyra -- a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Syria's antiquities chief said on Monday that his department would need five years to restore the ancient ruins of Palmyra damaged by the Islamic State jihadist group.

"If we have UNESCO's approval, we will need five years to restore the structures damaged or destroyed by IS," Maamoun Abdulkarim told AFP.