Mali's transitional government on Saturday expressed anger over the destruction of ancient Holy shrines in Timbuktu by the Muslim extremists who have been occupying the country's northern regions for the last three months.

Eye witnesses said that on Saturday morning, the Ansar Dine Islamists of Iyad Ag Ghali began destroying the 333 Holy shrines and tombs of some important personalities in Timbuktu.

Since April, the group of extremists have been controlling the town of Timbuktu which is classified as a World Heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The government, through a statement from the communication ministry, equated the destruction to a crime against humanity and said that it will ensure prosecution of all those who were involved, both at the national level and at the international level.

The Malian authorities said that they were determined to identify all those who were involved in the acts of destruction and present them before competent authorities, in conformity to the existing laws.

"In this regard, the Cabinet has already approved a plan to report what is happening in the north to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and a committee has already been chosen to work on that," the statement from the communication ministry said.

The transition government also said that it will seek support of the international community to stop these destructive acts which have nothing to do with Islam, a religion of peace and tolerance, being carried out by those who claim to be Muslims, yet they are extremists who have no faith and obey no law.

"The Malian people will continue to oppose these obscurantist practices which threaten their international cultural and moral values," the government statement concluded.