The BBC News reports on the Dutch hand over of Iraqi antiquities:

The Netherlands has returned to Iraqi ownership dozens of ancient artefacts that were stolen from the country after the US-led invasion of 2003. The 69 items were surrendered by Dutch art dealers after Interpol disclosed their illegal origin.

Among them was a terracotta relief of a bearded man praying, believed to be more than 2,000 years old. Tens of thousands of items are believed to have been looted from Iraq in the chaos which followed the invasion. Despite international efforts to track items down, fewer than half of the artefacts have so far been retrieved.

Ronald Plasterk, the Dutch minister for education, culture and science, said the world should “cherish and honour” Iraq’s history as the cradle of civilisation.

Dutch Hand Back Looted Iraqi Art (BBC News)