Baghdad, 2008 Feb 20, IRIB
 
Iraqi Minister of Tourism and Ancient Relics, Mohammad Abbas Al- Oraibi, has criticized the US and British occupation forces for constructing their military bases in places where Iraq's ancient relics are located.

In an interview with the Iraqi newspaper, Almada, he said the presence of thousands of American and British forces in archeological spots in the cities of Samarra in the center,and Naseriyah and al-Awr in the south of the country, as well as their digging moats there to construct military bases, are illegal and put Iraqi cultural heritage in jeopardy.

Referring to the current auctioning of Iraqi archeological remains in certain other countries, the Iraqi minister called on the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to make due endeavors to return these remains to their original country, Iraq.

According to Iraqi authorities, more than 3500 archeological pieces in occupied Iraq have been looted since the military invasion by US and British forces on the country in 2003.

Two months ago, an Iraqi stone statue, belonging to 5000 years ago, was sold at US$57 million at an auction held in New York.