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| Iraq's National Museum reopened | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Iraq's National Museum has re-opened, nearly six years after it was looted and vandalised in the immediate aftermath of the 2003 US-led invasion. | |
| Many of its antiquities were stolen at that time, and only a small proportion have been retrieved. | Many of its antiquities were stolen at that time, and only a small proportion have been retrieved. |
| Coalition forces had no orders to intervene, and stood by as Iraq's priceless heritage was pillaged. | Coalition forces had no orders to intervene, and stood by as Iraq's priceless heritage was pillaged. |
| Many of the nation's treasures were in the museum, whose looting was among the most scandalous episodes of the period. | Many of the nation's treasures were in the museum, whose looting was among the most scandalous episodes of the period. |
| Controversial move | Controversial move |
| Iraq, the cradle of civilisation, has been described as one big archaeological site. | Iraq, the cradle of civilisation, has been described as one big archaeological site. |
| It is estimated that about 15,000 artefacts and antiquities were stolen. Only about a quarter are believed to have been retrieved, despite international efforts to ban their trafficking or sale. | It is estimated that about 15,000 artefacts and antiquities were stolen. Only about a quarter are believed to have been retrieved, despite international efforts to ban their trafficking or sale. |
| The museum itself re-opened symbolically for a day in July 2003 to show that some of its riches remained. | The museum itself re-opened symbolically for a day in July 2003 to show that some of its riches remained. |
| It has been closed ever since but now, at last, its doors are open again. It is part of the Iraqi government's drive to show that life is returning to normal. | |
| But it is a controversial step. A number of prominent Iraqi experts, and even officials from the ministry of culture, have strongly criticised what they regard as a premature move. | But it is a controversial step. A number of prominent Iraqi experts, and even officials from the ministry of culture, have strongly criticised what they regard as a premature move. |
| They say that little of the museum's vast collection has been properly catalogued or displayed, and that a lot more work needs to be done before it is up to modern standards. | They say that little of the museum's vast collection has been properly catalogued or displayed, and that a lot more work needs to be done before it is up to modern standards. |