No artifacts missing from presidential palaces

Al Masry Al Youm (Mohamed Azouz)

A panel comissioned by the Egyptian government to take stock of artifacts at presidential palaces has said no pieces are missing.

Late in May, Minister of Antiquities Zahi Hawass ordered the formation of a panel to record the contents of presidential palaces, prompted by reports that toppled president Hosni Mubarak seized a number of pieces on leaving for Sharm al-Sheikh, where he has been residing since his ouster in February.

Archaeologists, however, remain skeptical of the integrity of the panel, especially as Hawass himself and Mubarak’s wife Suzanne are also accused of stealing antiquities.