[CPProt.net] Antiquities go missing from Egyptian museum

[MSN CPPnet (Ton Cremers)]

Antiquities go missing from Egyptian museum 

September 19, 2005

Cairo - The disappearance of three items from the Egyptian Museum has
prompted investigations that may be taken over by the General Prosecutor,
according to press reports on Monday.

The three artefacts dating back to 2649-2150 BC were found missing September
7 - five months after being lent to the museum for an exhibition, the
state-owned daily al-Ahram reported.

The items were never put on display, but kept under guard the museum's
basement along with thousands of others.

The three missing artefacts are a limestone statuette of a seated figure
that is 23,5cm tall, a statue of a couple that is 35cm tall and a wooden box
without a cover that contains a statuette of Osiris, according to the
al-Ahram report.

The items were never put on display
The independent daily al-Masry al-Youm said the head of the Supreme Council
of Antiquities, Zahi Hawass, had reported the disappearance of the items to
the General Prosecutor Saturday. The newspaper predicted that the prosecutor
would open an official investigation into the matter.

News of the disappearance comes as the Ministry of Culture is already under
criticism over a fire on September 5 at one of its cultural centres that
killed 46 people, among them several prominent theatre critics.

The ensuing public outcry prompted Minister of Culture Farouq Hosny to
tender his resignation, but it was rejected by President Hosni Mubarak. - 

Sapa-dpa
http://www.int.iol.co.za/