Groups stealing Iraq's antiquities

BAGHDAD, Oct. 3 (UPI) -- Organized groups stealing Iraq's antiquities are burying the country's cultural identity, a member of a parliamentary panel said.

Hussein Sharefi, who sits on the tourism and antiquities committee, said the thefts are a violation of ancient civilizations, IraqiNews.com reported Wednesday.

"The groups which run the stealing operations of Iraqi antiquities are aiming to bury the cultural identity of Iraq," he said. "Many civilizations were born in Iraq and their remains still exist until this day but there is an obvious violation on these civilizations."

Sharefi called for the formation of an investigative committee to study the theft of 33 objects from a museum in the ancient city of Babel.