Egypt suspends ties with Louvre

Cairo suspends all co-operation with France's Louvre Museum until it returns 'stolen' slabs dating back to the time of the Pharaohs.

Egypt is suspending all cooperation with France's Louvre Museum until it returns "stolen" Pharaonic steles, the antiquities chief Zahi Hawass said. "We made the decision to end any cooperation with the Louvre until they return" five steles, Mr Hawass said. He said the decision had been taken two months ago. The steles were bought by the museum in 1980 although the Louvre knew they were stolen, Mr Hawass said.

The decision will affect conferences organised with the museum, as well as work carried out by the Louvre on the Pharaonic necropolis of Saqqara, south of the capital Cairo. *AFP