STOLEN EGYPTIAN ARTIFACTS HAVE BEEN RECOVERED

Nearly two dozen artifacts stolen from a museum magazine during unrest in relation to the Egyptian revolution in January have been returned, Minister of State for Antiquities Zahi Hawass confirmed on Friday. [Hawass has once again resigned --- possibly fired-- from his post as of the week of July 15th, 2011]

Scores of historic items were stolen or destroyed when violence broke out on January 28 as anti-government protests continued, resulting in the ouster of President Mubarak. Among the targets was the Qantara museum magazine near the city of Ismaila in northeast Egypt and the famous Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

Egyptian authorities had earlier created a 'Red List' of missing items and submitted it to Interpol and other international organizations in hopes to recover the artifacts of historic value. A further more 22 items have now been removed from that list after they were seized earlier this week.

Hawass said the items include rare pottery which dates back to the age of the Hyksos and five bronze coins which date back to the Ptolemaic area. He did not say where they were recovered, or if any arrests were made in connection.

Almost 300 artifacts have now been returned since the unrest.