Antiquities Unity

Egypt calls for antiquities unity - States which say ancient artefacts have been looted overseas should unite to recover their heritage, Egypt says.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/middle_east/8608513.stm

Some 20 countries are represented at the two-day conference in Cairo aimed at recovering artefacts from overseas.

The SCA wants many pharaonic items returned by Western museums.

"Museums are the main source for stolen artefacts," he told delegates from countries including Libya, Greece, Italy, China and Peru.

"If they stop (buying stolen artefacts) the theft will be less."

Mr Hawass told the delegates their nations needed to work together to recover their heritage.

Is Egypt right on this matter?

Originally posted by FMF

Egypt has a reasonable case. It's hard to imagine how mummies could end up in British collections legitimately. Would Russians sell the body of Lenin? Unlikely.