Mayor turns over Iraqi cigar box to police

LONDON, June 24 (UPI) -- London Mayor Boris Johnson Tuesday labeled as "ludicrous" an investigation into how he acquired a cigar box from Iraq during Saddam Hussein's regime.

Scotland Yard is investigating the matter, saying it would hold the red leather case "while further inquiries are made," The Times of London reported.

Since the issue of the cigar case became public during the election campaign, Johnson's office has accused his opponents of dirty tricks by having the matter referred to the police.

"The poor police have no choice but to investigate this ludicrous affair, and in the interim I am told I must hand the cigar case into police custody," the newly elected mayor said, "or else be led in manacles from City Hall."

Under United Nations sanctions against Iraq, anyone having Iraqi cultural property must hand it over to police, the Times said. Failure to do so is a punishable offense unless the recipient can prove he was unaware that the item was removed from Iraq illegally.

Johnson received the box from Tariq Aziz, the former Iraqi deputy prime minister.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said the force works with countries to recover items that are considered culturally significant.