Exhibition exposes modern tragedy of Babylon

· British Museum leads calls to preserve Iraq's heritage
· Coalition troops accused of destroying historic sites

6th century BC glazed brick relief depicting a dragon, from Babylon's Ishtar Gate

For more than 2,000 years the city of Babylon has been a byword for depravity and hubris. The Old Testament depicts it as an evil city and the legend of the Tower of Babel, a symbol of human arrogance, began there

Now, the British Museum is to give new currency to Babylon's legends with a major exhibition including details of how American and coalition troops have wrecked priceless archaeological remains in the ancient city during the occupation of Iraq

the museum plans to use film and photographs to show how coalition tank tracks, helipads and fuel spills have ruined unexplored archaeological remains on one of the world's most important historic sites

military vehicles have ripped through parts of a 2,600-year-old Processional Way leading to Nebuchadnezzar's palace

"one of the most important archaeological sites in the world"