The United States on Monday denounced the destruction of world heritage sites in northern Mali by Islamic militants, calling for their protection by all parties.

"The United States strongly condemns the destruction of the UNESCO world heritage sites in Timbuktu by Islamic militants," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters at a regular news briefing, saying "We call on all parties to protect Mali's heritage."

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) put Timbuktu on its list of the endangered world heritage sites Thursday, fearing damage to landmarks and cultural treasures in the wake of a coup that ousted Mali's government in March.

Timbuktu was captured by the Tuareg rebels and the Islamist group Ansar Dine in early April following the military coup. The al-Qaida-linked Ansar Dine on Saturday demolished mausoleums of Muslim saints there, in retaliation against the UNESCO's decision.

The attacks were reminiscent of the Taliban's destruction in 2001 of two sixth-century statues of Buddha carved into a cliff in Bamiyan, central Afghanistan, prompting outcries from some governments and organizations.

"More broadly we condemn the renewed fighting in the north and call on all groups to cease fire and engage with the ECOWAS mediators," said Nuland, as the ECOWAS, or the Economic Community of West African States, the regional bloc, discussed late last month the possibility of sending troops to Mali.

"The Tuareg rebellion fundamentally is a political problem that requires addressing their legitimate grievances, but it also requires strong cooperation by all players," she said.