Renovation of Grand Umayyad Mosque in Aleppo, Syria - in pictures

Blocks of ashlar sit in the Grand Umayyad Mosque's courtyard in Aleppo as renovation work gets under way. All photos: AFP
Blocks of ashlar sit in the Grand Umayyad Mosque's courtyard in Aleppo as renovation work gets under way. All photos: AFP
The mosque is an archaeological treasure in Aleppo's Unesco-listed Old City.
The mosque is an archaeological treasure in Aleppo's Unesco-listed Old City.
The mosque was at the centre of fighting between rebels and government forces for months and suffered extensive damage.
The mosque was at the centre of fighting between rebels and government forces for months and suffered extensive damage.
Staff work on the renovation of wooden windows.
Staff work on the renovation of wooden windows.
The renovation is part of a Syrian government initiative with a financial donation by Ramzan Kadyrov, the strongman of Russia's Chechnya region.
The renovation is part of a Syrian government initiative with a financial donation by Ramzan Kadyrov, the strongman of Russia's Chechnya region.
A recently renovated part of the mosque.
A recently renovated part of the mosque.
The mosque was originally built in the 8th century but was apparently destroyed and then rebuilt in the 13th century.
The mosque was originally built in the 8th century but was apparently destroyed and then rebuilt in the 13th century.