US asks for report on stolen Egyptian antiquities

The New York Attorney asked Zahi Hawas, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), to set up a committee of Egyptian archaeologists to provide a report to the American court next week on the value of stolen pieces.

Hawas said a number of foreign archaeologists whom investigations proved to have been involved in smuggling antiquities will be suspended soon.

A British lawyer will be assigned to file a lawsuit to retrieve a royal head of a statue in the possession of a British artifacts merchant. In statements, Hawas said the U.S. court raring on the stolen antiquities case in New York will be handed down on June 11.

Meanwhile, Minister of Culture Farouk Hosni approved establishing a national museum of antiquities in Sharm El-Sheikh to develop tourist activities in the Red Sea governorate.

Hamdi Shehata, Head of the Museums Sector, said the project will be offered to specialised consulting firms early next month to draw up a final design of the museum which will stand over an area of four feddans.

Mohamed Abdel-Maqsoud, Director of the Lower Egypt and Sinai Antiquities Department, said a committee will be formed to select 4,000 pieces for display in the museum representing development of jewellery industry and mining in Sinai.