NEWS RELEASEHEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND 7115 South Boundary Boulevard MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101 Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894 |
April 28, 2003
Release Number: 03-04-199
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LOOTED IRAQI ANTIQUITIES RECOVERED
CAMP AS SAYLIYAH, Qatar -- More than 100 items looted from Iraqi museums, including priceless manuscripts, a 7000-year-old vase and one of the oldest recorded bronze bas-relief bulls, have been returned to coalition forces and the Iraqi people.
Iraqis started to return the items after coalition forces began urging local residents to return any artifacts taken during the looting in Baghdad.
One man returned a chest filled with priceless manuscripts and parchments to a nearby mosque; a local pianist returned 10 pieces including a broken statue of an Assyrian king dated to the 9th century B.C. and one of the oldest recorded bronze bas-relief bulls. And after some negotiation, a man arrived with 46 stolen antiquities, then with eight more pieces, and finally with a 7000-year-old vase.
Every day, Iraqis approach coalition forces with information about missing antiquities, and coalition forces follow up and investigate those tips.
Coalition forces will continue to work with the Iraqi people to recover priceless antiquities.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
