Van Gogh painting still missing

CAIRO, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- Authorities were hunting Saturday for a $50 million Vincent Van Gogh painting stolen from a Cairo museum, Egypt's culture minister said.

The painting by the 19th century Dutch post-impressionist, "Vase with Flowers," also known as "Poppy Flowers," was stolen from the Mahmoud Khali Museum in Cairo, The Daily Telegraph reported.

Egyptian Culture Minister Farouk Hosni said in a statement Saturday night the artwork was still missing despite earlier reports it had been recovered, CNN reported.

Airport security officials detained a young Italian man and woman who were trying to leave the country, the British newspaper said.

The painting also was stolen in 1978 and was recovered two years later in Kuwait.