Saddam's palaces to be converted into cultural centers

The Iraqi minister of culture Nouri Farhan al-Rawi said on Thursday said that palaces of the toppled Iraqi President Saddam Hussein will be shortly converted to "cultural centers."

Al-Rawi explained at the headquarters of UNESCO in Paris, where the International committee to preserve the Iraqi cultural heritage is held, explained that the "170 palaces for the former dictator will be converted into cultural centers and will be opened before the Iraqi people and visitors."

Al-Rawi expressed thanks to UNESCO and to the international community over the help they offered after the end of acts of stealing against the museums of Baghdad in April 2003 following the invasion of the American forces of Baghdad.