Artifacts Stolen by US Invaders from Iraqi Museums Auctioned on Internet

News Category: Cultural Disaster

The following report appeared in the semi-official Egyptian newspaper al-Ahram for Sunday, March 21, 2004, crediting "news agencies" and date-lined Washington.

A WEBSITE has appeared on the internet displaying Iraqi objects stolen by US troops and putting them up for auction to website visitors.

The objects up for auction include gift items, art works, and prayer rugs stolen from the Saddam palaces . Silver vessels, copies of the Qur'an stolen from government offices in Iraq are also up for auction.

A spokesman for the US military command in Iraq told the American news station CNN that US soldiers must be prohibited from having such items in their possession, and from transporting them out of Iraq.

Source: Al-Ahram