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A Lost Treasure May Be Rebuilt

As Afghans struggle to rebuild their nation, a towering cultural treasure may also be restored. Last week, Afghanistan's temporary leader Hamid Karzai promised to rebuild an ancient statue of Buddha. It had been destroyed by the previous Taliban government.

The 175-foot-tall statue was thought to be the world's tallest standing Buddha. The statue, and a smaller one, were chiseled into the cliffs of Bamiyan Valley 1,600 years ago. Last year, the Taliban blew up the Buddhas because the sculptures violated their strict Islamic beliefs.

Karzai wants the giant Buddha rebuilt "as soon as possible." He has asked Amanulah Haiderzad, an Afghan sculptor, to organize the effort. The statues "belong to human history," says Haiderzad. He hopes the project will provide much-needed jobs for Afghan artists.

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