Egypt returns ancient statue to Iraq

CAIRO, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- An ancient Mesopotamian bronze statue smuggled into Egypt has been returned to Iraqi authorities, Egyptian officials say.

A spokesman for the Egyptian Antiquities Department says the statue was handed over to the Iraqi Embassy in Cairo during a special ceremony, Iraq's Azzazam news service reported Friday.

Spokesman Abdulzahra al-Talaqani said the return of the ancient relic is a signal of the willingness of nations to cooperate with Iraq in the recovery of its stolen heritage.

It isn't clear whether the bronze statue was among the thousands of artifacts that went missing from Iraq shortly after the U.S. invasion.

In addition to items taken from the Iraq Museum, archaeologists say thousands of antiquities have been smuggled out of the country due to illegal digging at scores of ancient sites.

Source: United Press International (UPI).
Link: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/02/06/Egypt_returns_ancient_statue_to_Iraq/UPI-88101233941292/.