Looted Libyan treasure 'in Egypt'
BBC News, Tripoli
Libya's National Transitional Council says it believes several hundred ancient coins stolen from a bank in Benghazi during the Libyan uprising have turned up in Egypt.
More than 7,000 priceless coins and other precious artefacts were taken during a robbery in May while the city fought for its survival against forces loyal to Col Muammar Gaddafi.
The thieves targeted a collection known as the Treasure of Benghazi.
It included more than 10,000 pieces, with coins dating back to Greek, Roman, Byzantine and early Islamic times, but also other treasures such as small statues and jewellery.
Most had been discovered during the Italian occupation of Libya and were taken out of the country.
The collection has been kept in the vault of the Commercial Bank of Benghazi ever since, waiting for the opening of a museum that was never built.
The coins were never photographed or documented and seemed to have been forgotten,
according to Dr Saleh Algab, the chairman of the Tripoli Museum.
Top men were working on it.
BBC News:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15517886
