BAGHDAD, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Iraqi Tourism and Antiquities Minister Qahatan al-Jibouri says his ministry is creating a plan aimed at regaining control of all stolen Iraqi antiquities.
The Iraqi minister, whose ministry controls Iraq's Antiquities Department, said the safe return of all missing Iraqi relics was a top priority for the country, Azzaza reported Thursday.
Another vitally important focus of the Tourism and Antiquities Ministry was protecting ancient sites in Iraq, Jibouri said.
Jibouri said while exact details of the plan have yet to be determined, the historic site protection effort would involve all Iraqi ministries.
Azzaza said those individuals who hand over any of the thousands of stolen Iraqi relics to the Antiquities Department would receive financial benefits.
Thousands of antiquities were stolen from sites such as the Iraq Museum or the ancient cities of Babylon and Nimrud following the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
