Egypt rejects deal re Nefertiti bust

Egypt State Information Service

Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) rejected an offer made by the director of the Berlin-based Egyptian Museum who suggested that his government is ready to hand Egypt 90 pharaonic mummies kept by the museum against Cairo's silence on restoring the Nefertiti bust which is also kept by the same museum.

Secretary General of the SCA Zahi Hawwas said that these mummies are not royal and of no importance.

"They among other pieces were smuggled from Egypt during the 19th century," Hawwas said.

He pointed out that Egypt is adamant to retrieve the precious antiquities stolen or smuggled outside the country, and he will call for an urgent meeting to determine Egypt's stance towards the international museums which reject Egypt's demands in this regard.