Eight artefacts from the collection of ancient king Tutankhamun were stolen from the Egyptian museum in Cairo during the recent nationwide unrest that led to president Hosny Mubarak's resignation, the Ministry of Antiquities said Sunday, dpa reported.
A review of antiquities in the aftermath of the protests has also found that 70 objects were broken, of which 25 are now being restored, with work to begin soon on the rest.
Two small gilded wood statues of Tutankhamun are among the stolen objects. A limestone statue of his father Akhenaten holding an offering table, a statue of Queen Nefertiti making offerings and a sandstone head of an Amarna princess are also missing.
Minister of State for Antiquities Affairs Zahi Hawass said an investigation has been launched to find the thieves.
But there have also been calls for an investigation into Hawass himself, with activists saying that he has had control over Egypt's greatest treasures for years "without accountability."
During the political unrest, hundreds of Cairo residents had rushed to form a human chain around the museum to protect it from vandals. Looters nevertheless broke into the building and damaged several antiquities, including two mummies and some statuettes.
The military is now guarding the museum, which is in Tahrir square, the focal point of the 18 days of protests that led to Mubarak's ouster.
Eight artefacts stolen from Egyptian museum during political unrest
Eight artefacts from the collection of ancient king Tutankhamun were stolen from the Egyptian museum in Cairo during the recent nationwide unrest that led to president Hosny Mubarak's resignation, the Ministry of Antiquities said Sunday, dpa reported.
