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Updated Sunday, October 11, 2009 1:27 pm TWN, dpa

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France to return antiquities to Egypt, ending row

Paris -- The French Ministry of Culture said Friday that five ancient wall fragments would be returned to Egypt to end a row that had suspended the country's ties with the Louvre Museum.

The National Scientific Commission of French Museums voted unanimously to take the step, and Culture Minister Frederic Mitterand then signed a memorandum in favor of returning the antiquities, the ministry said in a press statement.

The Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities had charged that the 3,200-year-old painted wall fragments were stolen in the 1980s from a prince's tomb in the city of Luxor. But the French ministry said Friday that the fragments were bought in good faith in 2000 and 2003.

The SCA had charged that the Louvre, which was exhibiting the fragments, was not abiding by regulations issued in 2002 which state that all museums must return stolen antiquities and not buy pieces proven to be stolen.

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