May 16, 2006, 16:40 GMT
Cairo - Egypt would go to court in the United States to demand the return of an ancient Egyptian mask from the St Louis Art Museum, the country's most senior official responsible for antiquities said Tuesday.
Supreme Council of Antiquities Secretary General Zahi Hawas said at a press conference in Cairo that a deadline had elapsed Monday for the return of the Ka-Nefer-Nefer mask, which had been stolen and smuggled out of Egypt in the late 1950s.
The mask had been located in the St Louis museum, but its director, Brent Benjamin, had refused to return the piece of stolen Egyptian heritage to its homeland, Hawas said.
As a result the Supreme Council of Antiquities, together with Egypt's attorney general, were due to file a lawsuit against the museum at a St Louis court.
In a further attempt to have the artifact returned, the council and attorney general are to provide Interpol with evidence of Egypt's ownership of the mask.
Hawas also announced that the council would end all cooperation with the museum so long as it keeps the stolen mask in its collection.
Hawas went on to refute claims that the mask was given to egyptologist Zakariya Ghoneim, who had discovered it at the Saqqara necropolis in 1952.
Hawas said that, according to Egyptian law, none of the antiquities found in Egypt can be bestowed on individuals.
The conflict over the mask surfaced a few months ago when a foreign archaeologist noticed that it was on display at the St Louis Art Museum and informed the Supreme Council of Antiquities of its whereabouts.
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