BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — Islamist rebels said Sunday they will continue to destroy historic sites in Mali’s northern city of Timbuktu before they implement strict Shariah law, as Mali’s government compared the destruction to “war crimes” and said they would seek international justice.

Ansar Dine spokesman Sanda Abu Mohamed said Sunday that Islamists will continue the destruction they started Saturday. “We’re going to destroy everything before we apply Shariah in this city,” he said.