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Iraq's National Museum reopened Iraq's National Museum reopened
(19 minutes 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. Iraq's National Museum has reopened nearly six years after it was looted and vandalised in the aftermath of the 2003 US-led invasion.
Many of its antiquities were stolen at that time, and only a small proportion have been retrieved. Thousands of its antiquities were stolen at that time, and only about a quarter have since 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, and analysts decried its looting as scandalous.
Prime Minister Nouri Maliki was at the opening ceremony inside the museum, and described what had happened there as Iraq's "dark age".
"I'd like to offer my sincerest thanks to all the countries which stood by Iraq, whether through their contributions towards rebuilding this museum or returning the smuggled artefacts," he said.
"We want to make our museum a place which will be at the forefront of international museums. There's a long road ahead of us."
Controversial moveControversial move
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 in the chaos that accompanied Saddam Hussein's ousting.
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. 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. Advertisement The museum itself reopened symbolically for a day in July 2003 to show that some of its riches remained - but it had remained shut since then.
Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri Maliki attended the re-opening of the National Museum The BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says the reopening is part of the Iraqi government's drive to show that life is returning to normal.
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 our correspondent says it is a controversial step, with several prominent Iraqi experts, and even officials from the ministry of culture, criticising 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 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. Meanwhile a roadside bombing in central Baghdad killed at least two civilians and wounded six other people, including two police officers, on Monday.
Officials say the bombing was aimed at a police patrol.