Directions: Fill in the missing link (5) in the paragraph given.

Directions: Fill in the missing links in the paragraph given:

In November 1993, the elegant, 16th century Stari – Most bridge over the river Neretva at Moster, Bosnia, lay in ruins.

It was shelled by the Bosnian Croats, during their war with the Bosnian Muslims, but not because the bridge had _____ (1) _____ importance. Rather, as a relic of the Muslim Ottoman Empire, it had become a primary symbol of Muslim identity. Its destruction was intended to strike a profound blow to Muslims morale.

Now that a kind of peace had been restored to Bosnia, the destruction of Mostar’s famous and historic bridge – it had still not being replaced – seems peculiarly pointless; a tragic example to cultural vandalism that ____ (2) ____ our global cultural heritage and affects us all. Mostar was not alone to suffer in that war. Nearby Pocitelj was ransacked by Croatian militia with symbols of Christianity erected and buildings of Islam damaged. In fact all over Bosnia – Herzegovina historic monuments and buildings, religious places and even cemeteries were attacked as part of the ____(3)____ of ethnic cleansing adopted by all sides in the conflict.

Cultural vandalism is not a new ____(4)____ in war. From the Persians who sacked Athens in 480 BC to the Germans who’s bombers targeted England’s historic towns in the so – called ‘Baedeker’ raids of World War II, cultural vandalism has no doubt being a ____(5)____ of conflict since war began.