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Audit: Mubarak stole no artifacts

CAIRO, June 19 (UPI) -- Egypt's minister of antiquities says a panel he commissioned to inventory artifacts at presidential palaces has found nothing missing.

Antiquities Minister Zahi Hawass ordered the formation of a panel to record the contents of the palaces in May, but archaeologists have said they're skeptical about the accuracy of the report because Hawass himself has been accused of stealing artifacts.

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Mahmoud Abbas, head of the panel appointed by Hawass, said in an al-Masry al-Youm report Sunday the panel inventoried the contents of 18 presidential palaces in Cairo and Alexandria, as well as presidential residences in Alexandria, Marsa Matrouh, Ismailia, Aswan and Cairo.

"All the contents of the palaces surveyed are typical of those listed in the ministry's records," Abbas said.

The audit was prompted by claims ousted President Hosni Mubarak and his wife took a number of antiquities when they left for Sharm al-Sheik, where they have lived since Mubarak left office in February.

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